Good training allows excellent results for laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication even early in the surgeon’s experience

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is the gold standard for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a well-defined learning curve for the procedure has been described. This study aimed to assess whether the surgeon’s experience has an effect on 1-year symptom scores and patient satisfaction.

All the patients who underwent antireflux surgery were entered into a prospectively maintained database including 1-year postoperative symptom scores. The database was queried in June 2008 to identify patients who had been followed up for 1 year. To decrease variability, the patients with a large hiatal hernia (>5 cm), paraesophageal hernia, treatment with partial fundoplication, a required Collis gastroplasty, or treatment with a transthoracic procedure were excluded from the study.

From September 2003 to March 2007, 215 consecutive patients underwent primary antireflux surgery. Of these 215 patients, 158 (93 women with a mean age of 50.9 ± 13.6 years; range, 18–87 years) met the inclusion criteria and were divided into three groups: early group (9/2003–10/2004), mid group (10/2004–12/2005), and late group (12/2005–3/2007). Experience significantly decreased the mean operative time (P < 0.05) and the hospital stay (P < 0.05). Additionally, the number of patients who required reoperative intervention also decreased with experience. There was no difference in the patient-reported symptom scores at 1 year for heartburn (mean, 0.3 ± 0.7), regurgitation (mean, 0.1 ± 0.4), or dysphagia (mean, 0.3 ± 0.6) (P > 0.05 for each). However, chest pain (mean, 0.2 ± 0.4) was significantly improved with experience (P < 0.05). The overall patient-reported mean satisfaction was 9.0 ± 1.9 (P > 0.05, scale, 1–10), and 14.5% (19/131) of the patients reported use of acid suppression medications.

A high degree of 1-year symptom resolution and satisfaction can be achieved even early in a surgeon’s experience provided there is adequate training and maintenance of strict adherence to technique.