Randomised controlled trials of laparoscopic techniques for antireflux surgery

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/157986

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is common, and over the last decade there has been an exponential rise in the usage of acid suppressing medication. Current trends suggest that the national cost of medical treatment of reflux will become unaffordable unless new management or preventative strategies can be developed. Presently, surgery is the only treatment which can cure reflux. Laparoscopic fundoplication has recently become an acceptable, low morbidity keyhole surgical treatment for this problem. However, research is essential to develop a procedure which optimizes the outcome for patients undergoing surgical management of reflux, and minimizes the risk of complications. This may provide a better alternative to long term management with acid suppressing medication, and could eventually achieve long term savings to the nation's health budget. Since 1994 research conducted at the Royal Adelaide Hospital has evaluated a range of different key hole operations aimed at improving the outcome for patients undergoing surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux. Over 100 patients have been entered into each of the following clinical trials: total fundoplication with or without division of the short gastric vessels, total versus anterior partial fundoplication and posterior or anterior hiatal repair. Further trials will compare a lesser degree of anterior partial fundoplication with total fundoplication. A common research protocol has been developed and applied to all of these trials. This involves the use of double blind randomised methodology, with independent follow-up obtained by an independent investigator. These trials will determine the best surgical technique for the surgical correction of reflux, and this should lead to a more widely accepted surgical alternative to existing non-operative strategies for pathological reflux.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $275,923.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Surgery

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

antireflux surgery | fundoplication | gastro-oesophageal reflux | laparoscopy | randomised controlled trials

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