Initial Experience with the Surgical Management of Morbid Obesity Associated with Symptomatic Gastro-esophageal Reflux: A Comparison between Gastroplasty Alone and Gastroplasty with Anterior Fundoplication

The optimal management of patients with morbid obesity and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains an unresolved issue. We have performed a vertical banded gastroplasty combined with an anterior fundoplication (VBG + AF) in 28 selected morbidly obese patients with moderate or severe heartburn. The patients who underwent VBG + AF are compared to patients who had similar heartburn symptoms and underwent gastroplasty alone during this period. In the VBG + AF group there were two treatment failures (7%). In the gastroplasty group there were 63 patients with 15 treatment failures (24%). These differences were independent of demographic and weight loss variables. These results suggest that VBG + AF may provide a superior option for the management of morbidly obese patients with GERD.