Health-Related Quality of Life and Long-term Results after Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy and Dor Fundoplication

Introduction: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is currently considered the choice treatment for relief of dysphagia in Esophageal Achalasia (EA), showing a low incidence of gastroesophageal reflux and evident improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL). Objective: Evaluate Health-Related quality of life and clinic evolution after laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication. Material and method: Prospective longitudinal descriptive observational study, through the application of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index questionnaire (GIQLI) to patients underwent surgery for EA from January 2010 to December 2017 at the National Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. The questionnaire was applied before surgery and one year later. Statistical analysis: Percentages for qualitative variables, mean ± standard deviation or median and range, as appropriate for quantitative variables, for the comparison of the questionnaire results, we used student’s t-test, with statistical significance level α=0.05. Results: 101 patients were included in the study, three of them were excluded. Age ranged from 18 to 78 years with an average of 47 years. The mean time of evolution of the symptoms was 62 months, with an average of 3.3 on the dysphagia scale and a Resting Pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (mmHg) 38.7 ± 16.8, an initial GIQLI of 85 was obtained, 3 ± 20.4, which increased twelve months after surgery to 131.6 ± 10.5. Conclusions: Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication improve Health-Related quality of life in patients with esophageal achalasia with good outcomes in time.