The study objective is to evaluate the relative merits, safety and effectiveness of Anti-reflux mucosal valvuloplasty (ARMV) in GERD patients currently treated with daily Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).
Under general anesthesia, patients are positioned in the left lateral decubitus position and undergo endoscopic examination of the esophagus and stomach. The surgery utilizes a single-channel gastroscope (EG29-i10, Pentax, Japan, or GIF-H290T, Olympus, Japan) and a high-frequency generator (VIO300D, Erbe, Germany). A transparent cap (D-201, Olympus, Japan) is attached to the gastroscope to improve visualization and aid in manipulating the flap valve. The DualKnife (Olympus, Japan) is selected for dissection due to its maneuverability in a retroflexed fashion. For patients with esophageal strictures obstructing scope passage, esophageal dilation is performed using Savary-Gilliard dilators (Cook Medical, USA) just before ARMV. During the ARMV procedure, a segment of the mucosa at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is released and reconstructed to form a mucosal flap. Cautery markings are made on 3/4-4/5 of the mucosa along the lesser curvature, approximately 2 cm below the dentate line. After submucosal injection of saline with indigocarmine, the premarked mucosa is dissected from the caudal to cranial side using an endoscopic submucosal dissection technique. The cranial edge of the released mucosa is left in place, and the semi-free mucosa naturally curls to form a double-layer flap. Metal clips are then used to anchor the free edge of the mucosa to the exposed submucosa/smooth muscle to prevent flattening of the mucosal flap. Any visible bleeding on the exposed submucosa is coagulated using electric forceps. After the ARMV procedure, PPI therapy is continued for 1 month to promote mucosal healing before being discontinued. If symptoms reoccur, the PPI management regimen is reinstated for the ARMV group, with diligent recording of PPI usage in a medication diary.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
74
During the ARMV procedure, a segment of the mucosa at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is released and reconstructed to form a mucosal flap. Cautery markings are made on 3/4-4/5 of the mucosa along the lesser curvature, approximately 2 cm below the dentate line. After submucosal injection of saline with indigocarmine, the premarked mucosa is dissected from the caudal to cranial side using an endoscopic submucosal dissection technique. The cranial edge of the released mucosa is left in place, and the semi-free mucosa naturally curls to form a double-layer flap. Metal clips are then used to anchor the free edge of the mucosa to the exposed submucosa/smooth muscle to prevent flattening of the mucosal flap. Any visible bleeding on the exposed submucosa is coagulated using electric forceps.
Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Center
Jinan, Shandong, China
RECRUITINGGERD-HRQL
Questionnaire (GERD-HRQL) : Total Score: Calculated by summing the individual scores to questions 1-15 Greatest possible score (worst symptoms)= 75 Lowest possible score (no symptoms)= 0 Heartburn Score: Calculated by summing the individual scores to questions 1-6 . Worst heartburn symptoms = 30 No heartburn symptoms= 0 Scores of ≤ 12 with each individual question not exceeding 2 indicate heartburn elimination. Regurgitation Score: Calculated by summing the individual scores to questions10-15. Worst regurgitation symptoms = 30 No regurgitation symptoms = 0 Scores of ≤ 12 with each individual question not exceeding 2 indicate regurgitation elimination.
Time frame: at 0, 6 months follow- up
GERD-Q score
Questionnaire (GERD-Q ) : Recall the frequency of burning sensation (heartburn) after your sternum in the past 7 days;How often do you feel stomach contents (liquid or food) returning to your throat or mouth (reflux) in the past 7 days?How often did you feel pain in the center of your upper abdomen in the past 7 days?How often did you feel nauseous in the past 7 days?How often have you had difficulty getting good night sleep due to heartburn and/or reflux in the past 7 days? Looking back on the past 7 days, in addition to the medication advised by the doctor, did you take additional medication to alleviate the frequency of heartburn and/or reflux? (such as calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, and other antacids).0 days are 0 points, 1 day is 1 point, 2-3 days are 2 points, and 4-7 days are 3 points. Add up the scores for each item to obtain the total score.
Time frame: at 0, 3, 6 ,12 ,24,36 months follow- up
DeMeester score
Esophageal 24-hintraluminal ambulatory pH monitoring is performed to monitor the modality of the reflux. A catheter sensor is placed 5 cm above the proximal border of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Each reflux is considered acidic when the pH of the refluxate is less than 4. The acid reflux composite score (DeMeester score) is calculated using the following values: percentage of total time in reflux, percentage of time in reflux in the upright position, percentage of time in reflux in the supine position, the total number of reflux episodes, number of reflux episodes continuing over 5 minutes, and longest duration of reflux among all reflux episodes
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Time frame: at 0, 6 and 24 months follow- up
Presence of reflux esophagitis
Healing of esophagitis will represent a clinically significant improvement. Treatment success will be defined by a significantly (p \< 0.05) higher number of patients with healed esophagitis in the ARMV group vs. PPI group.
Time frame: at 0, 6 and 24 months follow- up
Appearance of the mucosal flap
The shape and mobility of the anti-reflux mucosal flap displayed under endoscopy
Time frame: at 6 and 24 months follow- up
PPI use
Requirement of PPI for control of symptoms. Heartburn and Regurgitation questionnaire 0 =No symptom 1 =Symptoms noticeable but not bothersome 2=Symptoms noticeable and bothersome but not every day 3 =Symptoms bothersome every day 4 =Symptoms affect daily activity 5 =Symptoms are incapacitating to do daily activities.
Time frame: at 0, 3, 6 ,12 ,24,36 months follow- up
Incidence of adverse events
The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding and perforation; Postoperative pain score
Time frame: at 3, 6 ,12 ,24,36 months follow- up