Effect of Vagus Nerve Integrity on Short and Long-Term Efficacy of Antireflux Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Vagus nerve injury is a feared complication of antireflux surgery (ARS) that may negatively affect reflux control. The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate short-term and long-term impact of vagus nerve injury, evaluated by pancreatic polypeptide response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia (PP-IH), on the outcome of ARS. METHODS: In the period from 1990 until 2000, 125 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) underwent ARS at a single center. Before and 6 months after surgery, vagus nerve integrity testing (PP-IH), 24-h pH-monitoring, gastric emptying, and reflux-associated symptoms were evaluated. In 2014, 14-25 years after surgery, 110 patients were contacted again for evaluation of long-term symptomatic outcome using two validated questionnaires (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and GERD-Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL)). RESULTS: Short-term follow-up: vagus nerve injury (PP peak ≤47 pmol/l) was observed in 23 patients (18%) 6 months after fundoplication. In both groups, a comparable decrease in reflux parameters and symptoms was observed at 6-month follow-up. Postoperative gastric emptying was significantly delayed in the vagus nerve injury group compared with the vagus nerve intact group. Long-term follow-up: patients with vagus nerve injury showed significantly less effective reflux control and a higher re-operation rate. CONCLUSIONS: Vagus nerve injury occurs in up to 20% of patients after ARS. Reflux control 6 months after surgery was not affected by vagus nerve injury. However, long-term follow-up showed a negative effect on reflux symptom control and re-operation rate in patients with vagus nerve injury.

Impact of laparoscopic antireflux surgery on belching in pediatric GERD patients.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) is a well-established treatment option for children with proton pomp inhibitor (PPI)-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Besides preventing reflux of gastric fluid and solid content, LARS may also impair the ability of the stomach to vent intragastric air (i.e. gastric belching) and induce gas-related complications, such as bloating and/or hyperflatulence. Furthermore, it was previously hypothesized that LARS induces a behavioral type of belching, not originating from the stomach, called supragastric belching. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the impact of LARS on gastric (GB) and supragastric belching (SGB) in children with GERD. METHODS: We performed a prospective, Dutch multicenter cohort study including 25 patients (12 males, median age 6 (range 2-18) years) with PPI-resistant GERD who were scheduled for LARS. Twenty-four-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance pH monitoring (MII-pH monitoring) was performed before and 3 months after fundoplication. Impedance pH tracings were analyzed for reflux episodes and GBs and SGBs. KEY RESULTS: LARS reduced acid exposure time from 8.5% (6.0-16.2%) to 0.8% (0.2-2.8%), p < 0.001. The number of GBs also significantly decreased after LARS (59 [43-77] VS 5 [2-12], p < 0.001). The number of air swallows remained unchanged after LARS. SGBs were infrequent before LARS with no change in the number of SGB observed after the procedure. Postoperative belching symptoms were associated with GBs, not with SGBs. CONCLUSION & INFERENCES: LARS significantly reduces the number of GBs in children with GERD, whereas the number of air swallows remains unchanged. Postoperative symptomatic belching is associated with GBs, but not with SGBs. These findings suggest that LARS does not induce the occurrence of SGBs in children, but longer follow-up is required.

The effect of endoscopic fundoplication and proton pump inhibitors on baseline impedance and heartburn severity in GERD patients.

BACKGROUND: Antireflux therapy may lead to recovery of impaired mucosal integrity in gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients as reflected by an increase in baseline impedance. The study objective was to evaluate the effect of endoscopic fundoplication and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) PPI therapy on baseline impedance and heartburn severity in GERD patients. METHODS: Forty-seven GERD patients randomized to endoscopic fundoplication (n = 32) or PPI therapy (n = 15), and 29 healthy controls were included. Before randomization and 6 months after treatment, baseline impedance was obtained during 24-h pH-impedance monitoring. Heartburn severity was evaluated using the GERD-HRQL questionnaire. KEY RESULTS: Before treatment, baseline impedance in GERD patients was lower than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Antireflux therapy increased baseline impedance (from 1498 [IQR 951-2472] to 2393 [IQR 1353-3027] Ω, p = 0.001), however it only led to a partial recovery when compared to healthy controls (2393 [IQR 1353-3027] vs 2983 [2335-3810] Ω, p < 0.01). The effect of both treatment options was not significantly different (p = 0.13) despite the increased number of non-acid reflux events in the PPI group. No correlation was found between baseline impedance and GERD symptoms before or after treatment. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Reduction in acid reflux by endoscopic fundoplication or PPI therapy leads to an increase in baseline impedance in GERD patients, likely to reflect recovery of mucosal integrity. The impact of non-acid reflux events on esophageal mucosal integrity may be limited as no difference in the increase in baseline impedance was observed after both treatment options. The lack of association between impedance baseline and heartburn severity indicates that other factors may contribute to heartburn perception in GERD.