Stretta Treatment in GERD After SG

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), i.e. the occurrence of troublesome symptoms or lesions as a consequence of retrograde flow of gastric contents into the esophagus, is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders. Obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2, is an increasingly important problem in the Western world and a well-known risk factor for GERD related symptoms and esophagitis. Possible underlying mechanisms include an increased gastroesophageal pressure gradient, upward positional shift of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and increased occurrence of transient LES relaxations (TLESRs) after a meal.

Bariatric surgery has emerged as a highly effective treatment for obesity and its associated metabolic complications. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) currently account for the majority of the procedures. Several studies have reported improvement of GERD after gastric bypass and SG, probably through a combination of reduction of the acid-producing gastric mucosa and weight loss. However, in up to 34% of patients who underwent SG, de novo GERD or worsening of pre-existent GERD becomes evident, which established baseline GERD symptoms one of the few relative contra-indications for SG in many centers. Several post-operative alterations have been hypothesized to explain the increased incidence of GERD after SG: increased incidence of hiatal hernia due to the sleeve formation, dissection of the phreno-esophageal ligament, intrathoracic sleeve migration, increased intragastric pressure due to decreased gastric compliance and disruption of the competency of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ).

Despite the fact that the majority of patients will respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, a significant proportion of patients continue to experience regurgitation and/or heartburn despite acid suppression although treatment outcome data are largely missing in the literature. These patients with refractory GERD symptoms after SG pose a challenge to surgeons and gastroenterologists since the postoperative anatomy does not allow classic fundoplication procedures.

Stretta® (Mederi RF LLC, Houston TX, USA) is an endoscopic anti-reflux procedure using the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the LES. Stretta® is supported by the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES, ASGE and NICE) for the treatment of GERD in selected patients and is long-term cost-effective. Several controlled studies and a meta-analysis have reported improved symptoms after Stretta® although the effect on esophageal acid exposure time is inconsistent. Stretta® decreases the compliance of the EGJ without inducing fibrosis since the effect was reversed by administration of a nitric oxide donor and decreased sensitivity to distal acid perfusion. However, studies evaluating the symptomatic benefit of Stretta® in patients after SG are lacking, which is the primary goal of our study (primary endpoint). With the secondary endpoints, the effect of Stretta® will also be investigated on various aspects, which will provide an insight in the mechanism of action behind the potential effect of the intervention.