Association between persistent symptoms and long-term quality of life after laparoscopic total fundoplication

BACKGROUND: We investigated which factors are significantly associated with long-term quality of life after laparoscopic total fundoplication in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: Patients (n = 144) were given a standardized frequency-intensity symptoms questionnaire and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey for quality-of-life evaluation before and after laparoscopic total fundoplication. RESULTS: At follow-up evaluation (n = 102), patients had a significant reduction in their symptoms score and no deterioration in quality of life. A significant association with postoperative dysphagia for solids and/or liquids was found in the physical component summary score of the Short-Form 36 administered to patients postoperatively (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, laparoscopic total fundoplication was a safe and effective surgical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease, generally offering in improved long-term quality of life, with the exception of a minority of patients (6 of 102 patients: 5.8%) who experienced persistent severe dysphagia. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.