Laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication

Although antireflux surgery offers very good results and patient's satisfaction, the referral rate to the surgeon remains very low. We present our experience with a less-invasive procedure that would result in minimal pain and very rapid return to normal activities and thus might lead to earlier referral. Fifty-nine patients with documented reflux esophagitis were treated. There were 31 females and 28 males whose age ranged from 27 to 69 years and whose weight varied between 140 and 280 lbs. Pre-op work-up included endoscopy, barium swallow, manometry, and 24-h pH studies. There was no mortality and morbidity was minimal; hospital stay was 2-3 days. Ten patients were lost to follow-up; all the remaining patients are completely asymptomatic, and the patients who had their pre-op work-up repeated showed normal results. Laparoscopic fundoplication seems to be as efficient and safe as the open procedure.