A retrospective study on the evaluation of the symptoms, medications and
improvement of the quality of life of patients undergoing robotic
surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal
disorder requiring lifestyle adaptations and administration of
medications. Another approach is the surgical treatment of GERD through
laparoscopic or robotic operations. The aim of the present study was to
investigate the improvement of symptoms and quality of life of patients
with GERD, before and after robotic surgical restoration using the
Nissen robotic fundoplication technique. The potential effects of body
weight, age and sex, as well as the response to medications and progress
over time, were also assessed. A retrospective study was conducted in a
tertiary hospital between October 2019 and March 2020. Data were
collected and recorded from 144 patients who underwent robotic surgery,
using the Nissen fundoplication technique, during the period 2009-2019.
All patients involved in this analysis pre-operatively exhibited severe
symptoms of heartburn and reflux, as well as poor quality of life. All
of these symptoms were re-examined after surgery, and a marked decrease
was observed with respect to their frequency and intensity. Improvement
was not affected by body mass index, whereas older patients exhibited
greater improvement. Women initially experienced more severe symptoms
before the surgery, but they appeared to respond as well as the male
patients. The long-term beneficial effects of surgery for up to the
10-year period studied were validated. After the robotic surgical
rehabilitation, the vast majority of patients overcame the unpleasant
symptoms of GERD and stayed off their medications. More than 4/5 of the
patients were satisfied after surgery. In conclusion, restoration of
GERD, using Nissen robotic fundoplication, led to the minimization of
symptoms and to a marked improvement in the quality of life of patients