Quality of life following laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived quality of life of persons following laparoscopic fundoplication surgery for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A secondary purpose was to explore the experience of gastrointestinal symptoms of persons following laparoscopic fundoplication surgery for the treatment of GERD. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) was used to assess the perception of gastrointestinal symptoms and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) instrument was used to assess the subjects' perception of quality of life. A convenience sample of 20 subjects was recruited from one gastrointestinal surgical practice. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOV A), t-tests, and Pearson product-moment correlations. Results indicated that the subjects in this study who had undergone laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of GERD experienced a slight level of discomfort due to gastrointestinal symptoms and perceive themselves as having a moderately decreased quality of life. Differences were found between those subjects who had received a Nissen (complete wrap) fundoplication procedure and those who had received a Toupet (partial wrap) fundoplication procedure, with the Toupet group having statistically significant (p<.05) better scores on all subscales of the GSRS and on the social functioning, bodily pain and role functioning-emotional subscales of the SF-36. Nursing implications included assessment of multiple systems and promotion of quality of life in providing holistic care to the GERD client.