Antireflux Surgery in Korea: A Nationwide Study from 2011 to 2014

BACKGROUND/AIMS Although laparoscopic fundoplication is a well-established therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Western countries, the mainstay of GERD treatment in Korea is long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate nationwide data regarding antireflux surgery in Korea. METHODS Data from 2011 to 2014 were collected from the Korean Antireflux Surgery Study Group and then analyzed. RESULTS A total of 87 patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of GERD. Preoperatively, typical symptoms were present in 81 patients (93%) and atypical symptoms were present in 51 patients (59%). Twenty-seven patients (31%) had poor PPI responses. The average surgical time and postoperative hospital stay were 116.3±42.3 minutes and 4.3±3.1 days, respectively. At 3 months after surgery, typical symptoms were completely controlled in 86.3% of patients and partially controlled in 11.7%, whereas atypical symptoms were completely controlled in 63.3% of patients and partially controlled in 23.3%. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that although atypical symptoms and PPI nonresponders are common, the complete control rates of typical and atypical symptoms were 86.3% and 63.3%, respectively. Laparoscopic fundoplication is an efficacious method of controlling the symptoms of GERD and has an acceptable rate of postoperative morbidity and adverse symptoms.