Electrical stimulation therapy of the lower esophageal sphincter is successful in treating GERD: long-term 3-year results

Leonardo Rodríguez, Patricia A. Rodriguez, Beatrice Gómez, Manoel Galvao Netto, Michael D. Crowell, Edy Soffer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Electrical stimulation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at 2 years. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LES stimulation in the same cohort at 3 years. Methods: GERD patients with partial response to PPI, with % 24-h esophageal pH < 4.0 for >5 %, with hiatal hernia <3 cm and with esophagitis ≤LA grade C were treated with LES stimulation in an open-label 2-year trial. All patients were on fixed stimulation parameter of 20 Hz, 220 μs, 5 mA delivered in twelve, 30-min sessions. After completing the 2-year open-label study, they were offered enrollment into a multicenter registry trial and were evaluated using GERD-HRQL, symptom diaries and pH testing at their 3-year follow-up. Results: Fifteen patients completed their 3-year evaluation [mean (SD) age = 56.1 (9.7) years; men = 8] on LES stimulation. At 3 years, there was a significant improvement in their median (IQR) GERD-HRQL on electrical stimulation compared to both their on PPI [9 (6–10) vs. 1 (0–2), p = 0.001] and off PPI [22 (21–24) vs. 1 (0–2), p < 0.001]. Median 24-h distal esophageal acid exposure was significantly reduced from [10.3 (7.5–11.6) % at baseline vs. 3 (1.9–4.5) %, p < 0.001] at 3 years. Seventy-three % (11/15) patients had normalized their distal esophageal acid exposure at 3 years. Remaining four patients had improved their distal esophageal acid exposure by 39–48 % from baseline. All but four patients reported cessation of regular PPI use (>50 % of days with PPI use); three had normal esophageal pH at 3 years. There were no unanticipated device- or stimulation-related adverse events or untoward sensation reported during the 2- to 3-year follow-up. Conclusion: LES-EST is safe and effective for treating patients with GERD over long-term, 3-year duration. There was a significant and sustained improvement in esophageal acid exposure and reduction in GERD symptoms and PPI use. Further, no new GI side effects or adverse events were reported.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2666-2672
Number of pages7
JournalSurgical endoscopy
Volume30
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2016

Keywords

  • Electrical stimulation
  • Esophageal acid
  • GERD
  • Lower esophageal sphincter
  • Outcomes
  • Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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