There is a dearth of data about quality of life (QOL) after pediatric fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Therefore, Frongia and colleagues conducted a study to evaluate the QOL in neurologically non-impaired children prior to and following laparoscopic hemifundoplication (LHF), and compared it with healthy controls.

PedsQL™ questionnaires data on gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) and general well-being (GWB) were compared in a propensity score-matched analysis with 60 patients pairs for time-point of surgery and 51 for follow-up.

• Prior to the surgery, the LHF group had more GIS in comparison with controls (72.2 ± 53.9 vs. 38.8 ± 31.6; p < 0.001), and a lower GWB (16.7 ± 5.5 vs. 23.8 ± 3.5, p < 0.001).
• Following the surgery, there was a significant decline in GIS (74.3 ± 52.9 vs. 36.3 ± 33.5; p < 0.001), with the GWB being significantly higher (16.2 ± 6.0 vs. 20.8 ± 5.8; p < 0.001).
• GIS were found to be similar in the LHF and control groups (39.1 ± 36.4 vs. 40.1 ± 31.0; p = 0.885); however, GWB was lower in the LHF group (20.5 ± 6.3 vs. 23.4 ± 3.9; p = 0.009).

It was concluded that there is a significant improvement in QOL following LHF in neurologically non-impaired children.

Source: Frongia G, Weitz D, Bauer J, et al. Quality of Life Improves Following Laparoscopic Hemifundoplication in Neurologically Non-Impaired Children with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis. J Invest Surg. 2022 Feb;35(2):278-283.