Anti-reflux surgery improves pulmonary function in lung transplant patients

Abstract

Background: As immediate posttransplant surgical outcomes have improved the greatest limitation of lung transplantation remains chronic allograft dysfunction. While immunologic factors are believed to be the primary cause of chronic allograft dysfunction other injuries to the lung may also play a role. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with resultant aspiration has been implicated as a potential contributing factor in chronic allograft dysfunction. Surgical treatment of GERD has been shown to be safe with minimal morbidity in the lung transplant population. In this study we sought to determine the effect of fundoplication surgery in lung transplant patients with documented GERD.