Primary and Redo Antireflux Surgery: Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Introduction

Some patients require one or more reoperative interventions after undergoing primary antireflux surgery (ARS). We compared outcomes after primary and reoperative ARS.

Methods

We queried a prospectively maintained database to identify patients who underwent ARS from September 23, 2003 to May 28, 2016. Patients were categorized into four groups: A (primary ARS), B (first reoperative ARS), C (second reoperative ARS), or D (≥ third reoperative ARS). Patients completed follow-up foregut symptom surveys and satisfaction questionnaires at regular intervals.

Results

In total, 940 patients were studied (A: n = 545, B: n = 302, C: n = 80, D: n = 13). Age, sex, and BMI were comparable across groups. Heartburn was the most common preoperative symptom in A, whereas dysphagia was more common in B–D. Open approach, mean operative time, and mean blood loss increased from A to D (P < 0.05), as did need for Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Vagal injury (2–19–33–54%; P < 0.05), visceral perforation (2–20–36–23%; P < 0.05), postoperative leak (0.2–2–6–8%; P < 0.05 A vs. all), and morbidity (2–10–14–39%; P < 0.05) also increased from A to D. At mean follow-up of 36 months, the proportion of patients who reported no significant symptoms, excellent satisfaction, and likeliness to recommend this surgery to a friend progressively declined with each successive reintervention (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Complications and patient-reported outcomes worsen with each reoperative ARS.