Mortality from laparoscopic antireflux surgery in a nationwide cohort of the working-age population.

Background: Both medication and surgery are effective treatments for severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Postoperative risks have contributed to decreased use of antireflux surgery. The aim of this study was to assess short-term mortality following primary laparoscopic fundoplication.

Methods: This was a population-based nationwide cohort study including all Swedish hospitals that performed laparoscopic fundoplication between 1997 and 2013. All patients aged 18-65 years with GORD who underwent primary laparoscopic fundoplication during the study interval were included. The primary outcome was absolute all-cause and surgery-related 90- and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were reoperation and length of hospital stay. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95 per cent confidence intervals of reoperation within 90 days and prolonged hospital stay (4 days or more).

Results: Of 8947 included patients, 5306 (59·3 per cent) were men and 551 (6·2 per cent) had significant co-morbidity (Charlson score above 0). Median age at surgery was 48 years, and median hospital stay was 2 days. The annual rate of laparoscopic fundoplication decreased from 15·3 to 2·4 patients per 100 000 population during the study period, whereas the proportion of patients with co-morbidity increased more than twofold. All-cause 90- and 30-day mortality rates were 0·08 per cent (7 patients) and 0·03 per cent (3 patients) respectively. Only one death (0·01 per cent) was directly surgery-related. The 90-day reoperation rate was 0·4 per cent (39 patients). Co-morbidity and older age were associated with an increased risk of prolonged hospital stay, but not reoperation.

Conclusion: This population-based study revealed very low mortality and reoperation rates following primary laparoscopic fundoplication in the working-age population. The findings may influence clinical decision-making in the treatment of severe GORD.