Recurrence of symptoms after surgical therapies

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common problem in the outpatient setting affecting 18.1-27.8% of patients in North America. Although medical management is often the primary and mainstay for treatment, invasive techniques with surgical Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication or endoscopic Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) are being utilized with increasing frequency. Studies have shown excellent short-term results for surgical management with Laparoscopic Fundoplication but with varying outcomes for long-term efficacy. One study found that recurrence of symptoms was not uncommon, and between 3% and 6% of patients will undergo a second procedure. TIF has become increasingly popular in helping to bridge the gap between medical therapy and surgical intervention. However, given the novelty of this procedure, long-term efficacy is unknown.