Despite high satisfaction, majority of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients continue to use proton pump inhibitors after antireflux surgery

Background While antireflux surgery is effective in controlling symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, its role in eliminating the use of antireflux medicines after surgery and as such its long-term cost-effectiveness remains controversial.

Aim To assess the patient satisfaction and the continued medication use following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication at a tertiary level community hospital.

Methods Adult patients who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication at our institution over a period of over 3 years were asked to complete a questionnaire recording their demographic information, date and reason for the surgery, preprocedure and postprocedure symptoms, smoking and alcohol use, and medication use preoperatively and post-operatively. Patients were also asked about their satisfaction with surgery.

Results One hundred patients participated in the study. Overall, 90% patients experienced satisfaction with their surgery. Eighty percentage patients were willing to undergo surgery again, if needed. Over two-thirds (67%) patients had decrease in the severity of their symptoms. None of the patients had worsening of symptoms post-operatively. However, 80% patients were still taking antireflux medications including proton pump inhibitors (53%).

Conclusions Most patients continue to use antireflux medications including after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication despite high satisfaction with surgery.