Aim: Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is a serious health problem in the Western world, with prevalence rates between 9 and 42%. The correct preoperative diagnostics including assessment of symptomatology is a prerequisite for the establishment of adequate therapy, including surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life in patients with GERD, based on their preoperative symptomatology.
Methods: From IX/2004 to XII/2008, a total of 237 patients underwent antireflux procedures in the Brno Faculty Hospital (FN Brno) Surgical Clinic. The patients underwent preoperative and postoperative gastroenterological examination, including endoscopy, manometry, pH-metry. The patients were asked to fill in the GIQLI (GastroIntestinal Quality of Life Index) questionnaire. The results were statistically assessed and evaluated.
Results: The study included a total of 178 patients. 135 subjects (76.7%) presenting with typical symptomatology and 41 subjects (23.3%) with atypical symptomatology were indicated for surgery. The mean preoperative quality of life index, based on the GIQLI questionnaire, was 101.6 points, while at 6 months after the procedure, the quality of life was evaluated with 106.9 points. There is a statistically significant difference in the quality of life between the patients with atypical and the patients with typical symptomatology, both prior to the procedure (p = 0.002), as well as after the procedure (p = 0.006), with the atypicaly symptomatology patients declaring poorer quality of life than the typical symptomatology ones. The risk of prolonged dysphagia (over 6 weeks after the procedure) is higher in the atypical symptomatology subjects, with statistical significance of p < 0.001.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery increases the quality of life independent of the preoperative symptomatology. Patients with atypical symptoms must be carefully examined and indicated with caution, considering the higher risk of prolonged postoperative dysphagia.