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The following is a summary of “Long Term (>5 years) Outcomes after Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation,” published in the November 2024 issue of Surgery by Louie et al.
Magnetic sphincter augmentation has shown effectiveness in controlling gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in short-term studies, but long-term data is limited.
Researchers conducted a prospective study to assess the long-term outcomes of magnetic sphincter augmentation for GERD control.
They enrolled 136 patients from a U.S. FDA post-approval study (2013-2015) with confirmed GERD despite proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Participants underwent laparoscopic magnetic sphincter implantation, with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Clinical success was defined as a ≥50% improvement in the GERD-HRQL score of PPIs. Secondary outcomes included pH testing and PPI use.
The results showed 81.6% achieved a ≥50% improvement in the GERD-HRQL score, with the median score improving from 26 to 4. Freedom from daily PPI use was 90.4%, pH testing showed the percentage of time pH<4 decreased from 9.1% to 3.2%, and the DeMeester score improved from 29 to 11 in 81 patients. The ability to belch and vomit was maintained while dysphagia occurred in 5%. Device explanation occurred in 13% of patients (27 patients), with 92.6% experiencing symptom resolution after explanation, fundoplication conversion, or device replacement.
They concluded that magnetic sphincter augmentation effectively controls GERD symptoms without the need for proton PPIs, though 13% of patients required an explanation.
