[The evolution and expectation of surgical options for gastroesophageal reflux disease]

It has been nearly 70 years since the first attempt of surgical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease in Western countries, while in China, it is still in initial stage. Allison first attempted to control gastroesophageal reflux through surgical approach in 1951, but single hiatal hernia repair was inadequate to control reflux. Nissen developed fundoplication in 1955, and Rossetti modified it for reduction of the mobilized extent and related damage. The anti-reflux effect has been greatly improved but with high incidence of dysphagia and gas related complications. In order to solve these troublesome symptoms, Toupet and Dor came up with partial fundoplication, DeMeester and Donahue came up with "short floppy" Nissen fundoplication, they all successfully reduced the incidence of dysphagia and gas related complications but with preservation of anti-reflux effect.Thereafter, the three main stream fundoplication was formed (short floppy Nissen, Toupet and Dor procedures). In addition, other attempts for surgical control of gastroesophageal reflux were made, such as Belsey Mark Ⅳ, Hill and Collis procedures, but they are not as popular as fundoplication for a variety of reasons. In the meantime, the operative approach was converted from traditional laparotomy and thoracotomy to laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic era, and the anti-reflux effect was preserved with reduction in the duration of hospital stay and incidence of complications. Although plenty of anti-reflux procedures exists, they all with their own advantages and disadvantages, the concern for inadequate long-term anti-reflux effect and post-operative complications remains the main obstacle to the widespread of anti-reflux surgery. Better and more minimally invasive anti-reflux treatments should be explored.