LAPAROSCOPIC ANTIREFLUX SURGERY FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD) - RESULTS OF A CONSENSUS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE - HELD AT THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL-CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN-ASSOCIATION-FOR-ENDOSCOPIC-SURGERY (EAES), TRONDHEIM, NORWAY, JUNE 21-24, 1996

Background: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is currently a growing fie ld in endoscopic surgery. The purpose of the Consensus Development Con ference was to summarize the state of the art of laparoscopic antirefl ux operations in June 1996. Methods: Thirteen internationally known ex perts in gastroesophageal reflux disease were contacted by the confere nce organization team and asked to participate in a Consensus Developm ent Conference. Selection of the experts was based on clinical experti se, academic activity, community influence, and geographical location. According to the criteria for technology assessment, the experts had to weigh the current evidence on the basis of published results in the literature. A preconsensus document was prepared and distributed by t he conference organization team. During the E.A.E.S. conference, a con sensus document was prepared in three phases: closed discussion in the expert group, public discussion during the conference, and final clos ed discussion by the experts. Results: Consensus statements were achie ved on various aspects of gastroesophageal reflux disease and current laparoscopic treatment with respect to indication for operation, techn ical details of laparoscopic procedures, failure of operative treatmen t, and complete postoperative follow-up evaluation. The strength of ev idence in favor of laparoscopic antireflux procedures was based mainly on type II studies. A majority of the experts (6/10) concluded in an overall assessment that laparoscopic antireflux procedures were better than open procedures. Conclusions: Further detailed studies in the fu ture with careful outcome assessment are necessary to underline the co nsensus that laparoscopic antireflux operations can be recommended.