Spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms after laparoscopic fundoplication

A total of 82 patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication between October 1991 and September 1993. Operative complications were unusual (7%), and the procedure in one patient was converted to an open procedure. Postoperative complications including dysphagia, gas bloat, and reflux recurrence were also unusual (less than 10% at 6 weeks). However, the majority of patients (96%) experienced some gastrointestinal side effects in the postoperative period. Such side effects included early satiety (96%), hyperflatulence (82%), nausea (15%), odynophagia (5%), and diarrhea (26%). The majority of these side effects faded during the mean follow-up of 13 months but persisted in a few patients. The incidence of these problems corresponds with the incidence reported in the literature for open fundoplications. The etiology of these side effects and treatment used is presented in this review.