Tag Archives: GERD

PUBLISHED: Robotic Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy with Hiatal Hernia Repair for GERD following Longitudinal Sleeve Gastrectomy

Robotic Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy with Hiatal Hernia Repair for GERD following Longitudinal Sleeve Gastrectomy
Fiona J. Dore, MDNicole B. Cherng, MD
UMass Memorial Medical Center

Patients who undergo longitudinal sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) may develop de novo or worsening of existing gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) symptoms, which include postprandial retrosternal burning, food refluxing, or dysphagia. Often patients with GERD following LSG present with a concomitant hiatal hernia. Workup serves to characterize a patient’s GERD disease burden by way of fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series, pH studies, manometry, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Treatment first involves medical management with lifestyle modifications followed by use of pump inhibitors (PPIs) or Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 Blockers or H2B). If GERD symptoms remain intractable to medical management, surgical intervention can be pursued.

Historically patients would undergo a conversion to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). New data demonstrate comparable outcomes regarding GERD symptoms and improvements in anti-reflux medication use in patients status-post LSG who undergo ligamentum teres cardiopexy with hiatal hernia repair. This article describes a robotic ligamentum teres cardiopexy with hiatal hernia repair in an adult patient who previously underwent LSG and was experiencing intractable GERD symptoms despite lifestyle modification and optimization on anti-reflux medications.

PUBLISHED: Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication

Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication
Ciro Andolfi, MD¹; Marco Fisichella, MD, MBA, FACS²
¹University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
²VA Boston Healthcare System

This is the case of a 63-year-old man with a long-standing history of gastroesophageal reflux disease, refractory to medical management with high-dose proton pump inhibitors and H2-blockers. The preoperative workup consisted of: 1) an upper endoscopy, which was normal; 2) a barium swallow, which showed a normal anatomy (no hiatal hernia or diverticula); and 3) esophageal function tests, including high-resolution esophageal manometry, which showed normal peristalsis, and 24-hour pH monitoring, which confirmed the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Considering the amount of pathologic reflux, and the normal anatomy and esophageal peristalsis, it was decided to proceed with a laparoscopic Nissen (360°/total) fundoplication. The operation went well and lasted less than 90 minutes. The patient was discharged the following morning after resuming a light diet, and recovered quickly. With this surgical approach, complete control of reflux was achieved, and the patient was able to discontinue his treatment with proton pump inhibitors.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication

Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication
VA Boston Healthcare System
Marco Fisichella, MD, MBA, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Associate Chief of Surgery, VA Boston Healthcare System

After medical management with high dose proton pump inhibitors proves to be refractory, a 63-year-old man with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) presents for surgical management. Consequently, Dr. Marco Fisichella conducts a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.