LAPAROSCOPIC NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

The Nissen fundoplication is the most common operative approach to the correction of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the United St ates. This report describes our success in performing this anti-reflux procedure laparoscopically in 28 patients with symptomatic GERD refra ctory to conventional medical therapy. Our laparoscopic technique does not differ significantly from the traditional, open Nissen fundoplica tion. After surgery, all patients reported symptomatic relief, and non e required medication for the control of reflux symptoms. Oral feeding s were begun on the first postoperative day, and patients were typical ly discharged on the second day after surgery. All but two patients re sumed normal eating within an average of 26 days. Two patients experie nced longer term postoperative dysphagia, including one who had underg one a highly selective vagotomy concurrent with the antireflux surgery .