Efficacy and safety of anti-reflux surgery in gastroesophageal-related cough: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent condition that manifests a spectrum of symptoms, including gastroesophageal-related cough (GERC). Anti-reflux procedures have been employed to alleviate these symptoms, yet their efficacy varies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the improvement in gastroesophageal-related cough and other reflux symptoms following anti-reflux procedures.

Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. All observational studies reporting the improvement of GERC and other reflux symptoms after the anti-reflux procedures. Data were extracted and pooled using a random effects model to assess the overall effect size and heterogeneity between studies. We found that anti-reflux surgery has some clear benefits for common reflux-related symptoms.

Results: Fifty-nine eligible studies with 7431 patients with GERD were included in this study. The pooled cough remission rate was 80.0% (95%CI 75.4-84.2) and the mean time of follow up was 35.8 months. Anti-reflux surgery significantly improved overall reflux-related symptom scores (all P<0.001). We also assessed the rate of remission of other reflux symptoms. The pooled heartburn remission rate was 87.7% (95%CI 82.3-92.2) and the pooled regurgitation remission rate was 91.2%(95%CI 87.8-94.1).

Conclusion: Anti-reflux procedures significantly improve gastroesophageal-related cough and other reflux symptoms. These findings support the use of anti-reflux procedures as a viable treatment option for patients with GERD symptoms. Further research is needed to identify predictors of success and to optimize patient selection for anti-reflux procedures.