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Pyloroplasty with Fundoplication in the Treatment of Combined Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Bloating

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Abstract

Background

Although gastroparesis does not influence gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or antireflux surgery, many patients with GERD will also suffer from gastroparesis-related bloating as a distinct symptom different from GERD-related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a pyloroplasty with a fundoplication will improve bloating symptoms in these patients.

Methods

A prospectively gathered database of all patients undergoing antireflux surgery was reviewed. All patients underwent history, physical examination, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, and, selectively, contrast upper gastrointestinal radiography. Patients with symptoms of bloating also underwent gastric emptying scintigraphy. All patients completed the GERD-Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) symptom severity questionnaire. One of the items of this instrument relates to bloating. The item is scored from 0 (asymptomatic) to 5 (incapacitating) based on descriptive anchors. Patients with symptomatic GERD and objective findings by physiologic testing were offered antireflux surgery. Those with delayed gastric emptying (defined as T1/2 > 120 minutes) were also offered a pyloroplasty. Operations performed included a laparoscopic or open Nissen or Toupet fundoplication with a Heineke–Mickulicz pyloroplasty. Postoperatively, patients completed the GERD-HRQL and had a gastric emptying scintigraphy performed.

Results

Three-hundred and sixty-nine patients underwent antireflux surgery; of these, 35 patients also had a pyloroplasty. Twenty-eight (80%) of these patients reported significant symptomatic improvement. The median preoperative bloating score improved from 4 to 1 postoperatively (P < 0.05), and the median gastric emptying scintigraphy T1/2 improved from 244 to 112 minutes (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Although gastroparesis may not contribute to symptoms of GERD, it can contribute to symptoms of bloating. Bloating symptoms improved in 80% of patients with the addition of a pyloroplasty. Therefore, addition of pyloroplasty to a fundoplication in patients with gastroparesis-related bloating can improve bloating symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA

    Suhair Masqusi MD & Vic Velanovich MD

  2. Division of General Surgery, K-8, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 West Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI, 48202-2689, USA

    Vic Velanovich MD

Authors
  1. Suhair Masqusi MD
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  2. Vic Velanovich MD
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Correspondence to Vic Velanovich MD.

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Masqusi, S., Velanovich, V. Pyloroplasty with Fundoplication in the Treatment of Combined Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Bloating. World J. Surg. 31, 332–336 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-006-0723-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-006-0723-z

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