Surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus

For the centenary of the Department of Surgery, University of Szeged we have investigated and summarized the results and outcomes of 779 anti-reflux surgery cases between 1. January 2000 – 31. May 2021. The indication for surgery was made in close collaboration with the internal medicine workgroup depending on the results of endoscopy and functional tests. The primer indication for surgery was medical therapy-resistant reflux disease. Based on our clinical practice we performed laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in 98,2% of the cases. Besides the long- and short-term postoperative complications, we investigated the long-term effect of anti-reflux surgery on acid and bile reflux, and the improvement of the patients' quality of life using the Visick score, and modified GERD-HRLQ score. Our investigations have proven the effect of acid and bile reflux in the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus and furthermore we have confirmed that laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery restores the function of the lower esophageal sphincter and eliminates acid and bile reflux, so in certain cases Barrett's esophagus regression can be achieved. But due to the heterogeneity of GERD and Barrett's esophagus long-term and regular endoscopic control is necessary.