[Current status and long-term results of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery]

Laparoscopic surgery has a great application for the treatment of different pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease it is not a exception, since its introduction in 1991 this technique has evolved constantly.

Analyze and evaluate indications, surgical technique and long term results of laparoscopic surgery as a treatment for gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

In this review paper we analyze literature to evaluate the current status of laparoscopic surgery and its application to the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Besides we briefly report long term results from authors experience.

Indications for laparoscopic treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease include patients with moderate to severe erosive esophagitis, patients with non-typical symptoms in which a 24 hours pH measurement shows these symptoms are correlated with gastroesophageal reflux and those who do not tolerate medical treatment, also Barrett's disease is considered a relative indication. Laparoscopic surgery has increased the number of patients treated surgically because it is well tolerated. Long term results in terms of controlling gastroesophageal reflux must be superior to 90% with a low complication rate.

Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease has shown better recovery, hospital stay, return to daily activities and global morbidity, which our group has been able to reproduce. Selection criteria must be strict with an adequate long term follow up.