Outcome of Stretta radiofrequency and fundoplication for GERD-related severe asthmatic symptoms

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the outcome of treatment with Stretta radiofrequency (SRF) or laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). A total of 137 gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients with severe asthmatic symptoms who responded inadequately to medical treatment for asthma were investigated. The patients were followed up 1 year and 5 years after SRF (n = 82) or LNF (n = 55) treatment. A questionnaire covering 29 related symptoms and medication use was employed. Digestive, respiratory, and ear-nose-throat (ENT) symptom scores significantly decreased after antireflux treatment. Symptom scores respectively changed from 17.2±10.1, 31.9±6.6, and 21.1±11.8 to 5.0±6.2, 11.5±10.2, and 6.3±6.8 at 1 year and to 5.6±6.5, 13.1±10.1, and 7.8±7.2 at 5 years (P <0.001). The outcome of LNF was significantly better than that of SRF in terms of digestive (P <0.001, P = 0.001), respiratory (P = 0.006, P = 0.001), and ENT symptoms (P = 0.006, P = 0.003) at both 1 year and 5 years. SRF and LNF were both effective against the digestive symptoms of GERD as well as GERD-related severe asthmatic and ENT symptoms, with better outcomes exhibited by the LNF group. Severe asthmatic symptoms and GERD were closely associated, and this finding warrants further study.

Keywords

asthma / gastroesophageal reflux / Stretta radiofrequency / laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

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Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg