The effect of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on laryngeal findings and voice quality

Background: This study aimed to report the need for an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to evaluate the laryngeal findings and the voice quality of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms before and after surgery. Methods: For this study, 38 GERD patients who had a Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) score higher than 14 underwent complete assessment in the ENT department. Standard 24-h pH monitoring, esophageal motility assessment, a detailed ENT examination including the RSI, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), and objective voice analysis were performed for all the patients before reflux surgery, then 6 to 8 months afterward. Results: The subject's mean RSI scores were 25.45 +/- 7.5 before and 16.52 +/- 5.06 after surgery (p < 0.05), and the mean RFS scores were, respectively, 10.37 +/- 2.7 and 5.5 +/- 1.45 (p < 0.05). The pre- and postoperative differences in the RSI and RFS scores and the voice parameters were statistically significant. Conclusions: Objective voice analysis, RSI, and RFS can be used to evaluate the postoperative results for GERD patients with LPR symptoms. Examination of these patients by an ENT specialist is necessary before and after the operation.