Experience With an Innovative Surgical Treatment Option for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Results of 28 Patients in a Retrospective Analysis

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Standard-of-care gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) procedures are associated with adverse events (AEs) (i.e., dysphagia, gas-bloating). RefluxStop has been developed to circumvent these outcomes. This study presents the results of 28 patients managed with RefluxStop in Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Between July 2021 and November 2023, 28 patients with GERD underwent RefluxStop surgery, a novel laparoscopic antireflux procedure. Retrospective chart analysis with patient-informed consent was conducted to determine clinical outcomes, such as GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) score, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) use, symptomatology, patient satisfaction, and perioperative AEs. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Baseline characteristics (<i>n</i> = 28): age 47 ± 13.1 years; 67.9% female; body mass index (BMI) 27.3 ± 4.1 kg/m²; 93% PPI use for 5.6 ± 2.7 years; and hiatal hernia in 100% of cases of mean (standard deviation [SD]) size 3.4 (0.8) cm, whereof 35.7% were large hiatal hernia (4-6 cm). At a mean (SD) follow-up of 14.1 (4.7) months, patients experienced 88.6% improvement in median (IQR) total GERD-HRQL score from a baseline of 35 (7.7) to 4 (4.2) at follow-up (<i>P</i> < .05). Preoperative dysphagia (35.7%) resolved completely in all patients (<i>P</i> < .001). The mean (SD) GERD-HRQL heartburn subdomain decreased by 90.6% from a baseline of 18.1 (6.1) to 1.7 (1.2) at follow-up and all patients (100%) had scores <5. Similarly, the mean (SD) regurgitation subdomain decreased from a baseline of 13.2 (4.7) to 2 (1.6) at follow-up and all patients (100%) had scores <5. Patient satisfaction was achieved in 96.4% of patients with no PPI use required in 93% of patients (<i>P</i> < .001); only one patient required PPIs for persistent GERD symptoms. No cases of reoperation or esophageal dilatation were performed. Minor intraoperative AEs occurred in seven patients (i.e., neck emphysema). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> RefluxStop provides excellent safety and effectiveness outcomes for GERD treatment. Dysphagia completely resolved (0%) with 88.6% improvement in median GERD-HRQL score and satisfaction achieved in 96.4% of patients. These promising results reproduced the outcomes noted in the RefluxStop CE trial in real-world settings.