ObjectiveTo evaluate laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).MethodsA total of 20 patients with GERD and COPD underwent laparoscopic anti-reflux procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to December 2017. The reflux diagnostic questionnaire, pulmonary function, COPD assessment test scale, 24-hour esophageal pH-impedance monitoring and esophageal pressure measurement were performed in all patients. All drug-refractory patients underwent the laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. After 12 months follow-up, the parameters of COPD and GERD were evaluated again.ResultsTwenty patients with COPD and GERD were successfully performed laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, no hernia patch repair patient and death patient occurred. There was no esophageal rupture, bleeding, infection, and other serious postoperative complications. Although 8 patients had the different degree dysphagia and 10 patients had the different degree abdominal distention, they all relieved themselves. Twenty patients with GERD and COPD were followed up for 1 year. Compared with the values before treatment, the GERD symptom score, reflux times, DeMeester score, and COPD assessment test score of the patients were significantly reduced (P<0.05), the lower esophageal sphincter pressure, percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the predicted value and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) were significantly increased (P<0.05) after the treatment. According to the grading standard of The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), 5 cases of grade Ⅰ, 2 cases of grade Ⅱ and 1 case of grade Ⅲ were cured; 1 case of grade Ⅰ, 4 cases of grade Ⅱ and 4 cases of grade Ⅲ were improved; 1 case of grade Ⅰ, 1 case of grade Ⅱ and 1 case of grade Ⅳ were ineffective. The total effective rate was 85% (17/20).ConclusionsCOPD is closely related to GERD. Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery can not only effectively treat GERD, but also markedly improve COPD.
