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Using quality-of-life instruments to measure outcome after laparoscopic fundoplication.

AIM
This article describe the symptomatic outcome of antireflux surgery in 56 consecutive patients in a single-centre, single-surgeon study--measured by previously validated, generic, and disease-specific quality-of-life instruments.


METHODS
In this retrospective study, data was collected from the case records of patients and postal questionnaires. The quality-of-life instruments used were the global quality of life (GQOL) scale; gastroesophageal reflux disease health related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scale; and the gastrointestinal symptom rating score (GSRS), self-administered version. Paired student t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
The response rate to our postal questionnaire was 100%. The male:female ratio was 1:1.4 and the age range was from 19 to 71 years. The operative technique was either a 'total 360 degree wrap' (47 patients) or a partial posterior fundoplication (270 degree wrap) based on the DeMeester technique. The median follow-up time was 36 months. The mean hospital stay post procedure was 2.3 days. Our results showed good satisfaction rates (80%) and recommendation rates (93%). Best results were achieved in the subgroup of older (over 50 years of age) males. The side-effect profile was comparable to that reported in literature.