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Long-term quality of life after kidney and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

We are using a validated questionnaire (SF-36) to annually assess health-related quality of life (QOL) in kidney and pancreas-kidney transplant recipients. The SF-36 consists of eight scales to assess physical functioning, general health, and mental functioning. Norms and 95% confidence intervals (C.I.) have been developed for the US population. At present, 1138 recipients with functioning grafts (520 Type I diabetic; 618 nondiabetic) 1-10 yr post-transplant have completed the questionnaire. Of the recipients, 446 completed the questionnaire once; 632 twice; and 53 three times (305 after 1 yr; 266 after 2 yr; 256 after 3 yr; 206 after 4 yr; 192 after 5 yr; 150 after 6 yr; 130 after 7 yr; 138 after 8 yr; 125 after 9 yr; 92 after 10 yr). For both diabetic and nondiabetic recipients, there was little change in average scores for each scale between years (p = NS). In relation to the US population, average scores for nondiabetics were below the 50th percentile on all 8 scales; for diabetics < 25th percentile on the physical functioning and vitality scales, < 50th percentile on all others. For both diabetic and nondiabetic recipients, average scores were higher than reported norms for patients with CHF, COPD, or depression but were similar to those with Htn or recent MI. Individual scores were then compared with age-matched means (+/- 2 SEMs) (95% C.I.) for the US population. At each year post-transplant, up to 40% of nondiabetic and up to 65% of diabetic recipients had scores below the 95% C.I. on individual scales (particularly the physical functioning and general health scales)--e.g. over 30% nondiabetic and up to 60% diabetic recipients had scores on the physical functioning scales below the 95% C.I. More diabetic recipients (vs. nondiabetics) reported poor QOL on the physical functioning, general health and social functioning scales. There was little difference in the mental health scales. For those with Type I diabetes, a similar percentage of kidney and K/P recipients reported QOL below the 95% C.I. for the age-matched population, except on the GH scale (better QOL for K/P recipients). We conclude that successful transplant recipients report health-related QOL below that of the age-matched general population but similar to those with other chronic diseases. Diabetic and nondiabetic recipients have similar scores on the mental health scales; nondiabetic recipients score better on the general health and physical functioning scales.

Adult↗

Physical and functional association of the T cell receptor and the T3 molecular complex on cytotoxic T cell clones that are differentially inhibitable by anti-T3 antibodies.

To examine the hypothesis that the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TcR) can function independently from the T3 complex on cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, the physical and functional association of the T3 molecular complex and the T cell receptor has been examined on CTL clones that are differentially susceptible to inhibition by anti-T3 antibodies. From a panel of nine DPw2-specific CTL clones derived from the same donor, two clones (8.4 and 8.8) that were the most disparate in their susceptibility to inhibition by anti-T3 antibody were chosen for study. No significant differences were found between 8.4 and 8.8 for: the levels of cell surface expression of the T3 complex and the TcR; the ability to modulate T3 cell surface molecules; and the capacity of the TcR to comodulate with the T3 complex. Modulation of the T3 complex from clone 8.4 did not significantly affect cytolytic activity, and incubation of modulated 8.4 with additional anti-T3 antibody did not inhibit cytolytic activity. Although no T3 function for clone 8.4 could be demonstrated by simply blocking cytolytic activity with anti-T3 antibody, addition of limiting quantities of anti-T11 (but not anti-T4, anti-Tac, or anti-LFA-1) antibodies plus anti-T3 produced a marked synergistic inhibition of cytolysis. These results suggest that: CTL clones that are resistant to inhibition by anti-T3 antibodies actually have a physical and functional association between the T3 complex and the TcR; and the ability to demonstrate a functional role for T3 by antibody blocking may, in some cases, require limiting the involvement of the T11 molecule in CTL-target interactions. The most likely explanation for the observed heterogeneity in susceptibility to blocking by anti-T3 antibodies is, therefore, thought to be that individual CTL clones possess TcR with differential avidity for specific targets.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Low-intensity exercise and reduction of the risk for falls among at-risk elders.

BACKGROUND: Among elderly persons, falls account for 87% of all fractures and are contributing factors in many nursing home admissions. This study evaluated the effect of an easily implemented, low-intensity exercise program on the incidence of falls and the time to first fall among a clinically defined population of elderly men and women. METHODS: This community-based, randomized trial compared the exercise intervention with a no-intervention control. The participants were 294 men and women, aged 60 years or older, who had either a hospital admission or bed rest for 2 days or more within the previous month. Exercise participants were scheduled to attend exercise sessions lasting 45 minutes, including warm-up and cool-down, 3 times a week for 8 weeks (24 sessions). Assessments included gait and balance measures, self-reported physical function, the number of medications being taking at baseline, participant age, sex, and history of falling. Falls were tracked for 1 year after each participant's baseline assessment. RESULTS: 29% of the study participants reported a fall during the study period. The effect of exercise in preventing falls varied significantly by baseline physical function level (p < or =.002). The risk for falls decreased for exercise participants with low baseline physical functioning (hazard ratio,.51) but increased for exercise participants with high baseline physical functioning (hazard ratio, 3.51). CONCLUSIONS: This easily implemented, low-intensity exercise program appears to reduce the risk for falls among elderly men and women recovering from recent hospitalizations, bed rest, or both who have low levels of physical functioning.

Accidental Falls↗

Physical and functional interaction between hMSH5 and c-Abl.

Despite being a member of the mismatch repair family of proteins, the biological functions of hMSH5 in human cells are presently elusive. Here, we report a novel physical and functional interaction between hMSH5 and c-Abl; the latter is a critical non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in many critical cellular functions including DNA damage response, in which the kinase activity is normally suppressed in the absence of biological challenges. Our data indicate that hMSH5 associates with c-Abl in vivo, which is mediated by a direct physical interaction between the NH2 terminus (residues 1-109) of hMSH5 and the c-Abl SH3 domain. This physical interaction facilitates the activation of c-Abl tyrosine kinase and the phosphorylation of hMSH5 in response to ionizing radiation. Our data also indicate that the hMSH5 P29S variant overactivates the c-Abl tyrosine kinase activity. Furthermore, it seems that the tyrosine phosphorylation of hMSH5 promotes the dissociation of hMSH4-hMSH5 heterocomplex. Together, the revealed physical and functional interaction of hMSH5 with c-Abl implies that the interplay between hMSH5 and c-Abl could manipulate cellular responses to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damages.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Uptime in children with cerebral palsy.

Quantitative evaluation of function, in children with physical disabilities, has to date been mainly focused on laboratory-based measures. However, the measurement of activity in the community may have a more direct relationship with physical function, health, and well-being. We assessed the utility of a remote activity monitor, the Uptimer (National Aging Research Institute of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia), to measure one aspect of physical function, time spent in the upright position, in a consecutive cohort of 300 children with cerebral palsy who attended an orthopedic outpatient department. The Uptimer was found to be a valid and reliable tool to measure the amount of time children spent on their feet each day. Uptime was closely related to the severity of cerebral palsy and had excellent correlations with validated instruments including the Pediatric Orthopaedic Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), and the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS). Uptime complements any quantitative functional assessment of impairments in children with cerebral palsy.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Low-functioning hemodialysis patients improve with exercise training.

The Renal Exercise Demonstration Project provided two different approaches to exercise programming to a group of hemodialysis patients. Physical functioning and self-reported health-related quality of life were measured at baseline, after 2 months of independent exercise, and again after 2 months of in-center cycling. This study compares the responses to intervention of patients who initially scored low (<34) on the Physical Component Scale (PCS) on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 questionnaire to those who initially scored higher (>34) on the same scale. The high-PCS group scored higher on all physical function tests (normal gait speed, fast gait speed, and sit-to-stand test) at each testing time than the low-PCS group. The high-PCS group improved only on the sit-to-stand test, whereas the low-PCS group improved in all three physical function tests. There were significant differences between the groups in change over time in all the physical scales and the PCS over time, with the low-PCS group showing improvements in response to the intervention and the high-PCS group showing no change over time. No differences in change over time were noted between the groups on the mental scales in either group. We conclude that low-functioning hemodialysis patients can benefit from exercise counseling in both objective measures of physical functioning and self-reported physical functioning. The impact of such interventions seems to be more profound in the lowest functioning patients.

Analysis of Variance↗

A randomized, controlled trial of aerobic exercise for treatment-related fatigue in men receiving radical external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Advice to rest and take things easy if patients become fatigued during radiotherapy may be detrimental. Aerobic walking improves physical functioning and has been an intervention for chemotherapy-related fatigue. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was performed to determine whether aerobic exercise would reduce the incidence of fatigue and prevent deterioration in physical functioning during radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma. METHODS: Sixty-six men were randomized before they received radical radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma, with 33 men randomized to an exercise group and 33 men randomized to a control group. Outcome measures were fatigue and distance walked in a modified shuttle test before and after radiotherapy. RESULTS: There were no significant between group differences noted with regard to fatigue scores at baseline (P = 0.55) or after 4 weeks of radiotherapy (P = 0.18). Men in the control group had significant increases in fatigue scores from baseline to the end of radiotherapy (P = 0.013), with no significant increases observed in the exercise group (P = 0.203). A nonsignificant reduction (2.4%) in shuttle test distance at the end of radiotherapy was observed in the control group; however, in the exercise group, there was a significant increase (13.2%) in distance walked (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Men who followed advice to rest and take things easy if they became fatigued demonstrated a slight deterioration in physical functioning and a significant increase in fatigue at the end of radiotherapy. Home-based, moderate-intensity walking produced a significant improvement in physical functioning with no significant increase in fatigue. Improved physical functioning may be necessary to combat radiation fatigue.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A bivariate genetic analysis of cerebral white matter hyperintensities and cognitive performance in elderly male twins.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are frequently observed on MRI scans of elderly nondemented people and have been associated in the past with cognitive impairment and physical dysfunction. Individual differences in the prevalence and severity of WMHs have been documented and more recently we reported on the significant contribution of genetic influences to this variability. The objective of the present study was to further investigate, in the context of a behavioral genetic paradigm, the nature of the association between WMHs and cognitive and physical function. MRI brain scans and a battery of neuropsychological and physical function tests were given to 142 male-male twin pairs [72 monozygotic (MZ) and 70 dizygotic (DZ)], participants in the 4th exam of the NHLBI Twin Study. Biometric genetic modeling was used to estimate the genetic and/or environmental covariation between WMHs and cognitive and physical summary scores. The phenotypic association between WMHs and cognitive function in this sample of twins was modest but statistically significant. Genetic analyses of cognitive and physical function summary scores found that 55% to 70% of the observed variability was due to genetic influences. A further decomposition of the phenotypic association between WMHs and cognitive function found that 70% to 100% of the phenotypic covariation was due to common genetic effects. Similar results explained the association between WMHs and performance on two physical function tests. We conclude from these analyses that common genetic influences explain to a large extent previously observed phenotypic associations between large amounts of WMHs and poor cognitive and physical function in the elderly.

Aged↗

The consequences of treatment and disease in patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: cognitive function and performance status. North Central Cancer Treatment Group.

Per protocol, patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in an intergroup phase II trial conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group had their cognitive functions measured using the Folstein and Folstein Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and their physical functions measured using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score (PS) at study entry, at each treatment evaluation, and at quarterly intervals thereafter until disease progression or death. Of the 53 eligible participants who began therapy, 46 (87%) had baseline MMSE scores recorded, 36 (68%) had at least one follow-up MMSE, and 32 (60%) had both, while 52 (98%) had baseline PS, 49 (92%) had at least one follow-up PS, and 48 (91%) had both. Patterns of MMSE and PS values over time were studied in each individual, in the group as a whole, in the 20 patients who completed the study regimen, in the 23 who survived more than a year, and in patients who were classified as nonprogressors at each key evaluation. For each patient, all recorded values were plotted versus time, with dates of disease progression and death included, to look for signs of decline in cognitive or physical function preceding adverse events. Long-term declines in scores of both cognitive and physical function were observed in many treated patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Nearly all patients who were alive more than 52 weeks after study entry had a demonstrable decline in cognitive and physical functionality. Such declines may occur before disease progression is documented; they may also occur in some patients who have long-term follow-up without evidence of disease progression. Declining MMSE and PS was a poor predictor of disease progression. There was no association of PS and toxicity. The data from this study demonstrated the considerable difficulties we encountered conducting an ancillary study such as this within a multicenter clinical trial. Firstly, the test instruments written into the protocol were unable to tell if the declines seen were due to disease, treatment, co-morbidity, or other factors. Secondly, the missing data created difficulties in interpreting outcome.

Adult↗

No difference in health-related quality of life in hip osteoarthritis compared to degenerative lumbar instability at pre- and 1-year postoperatively: a prospective study of 101 patients.

BACKGROUND: Total hip replacement (THR) is a very successful and refined surgical procedure when compared to crude bony fusion in degenerative lumbar segmental instability (LF). We compared the pre- and postoperative health-related quality of life status of THR and LF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 51 THR patients and 50 LF patients. The outcome parameters were SF-36 and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), measured preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. The status of the patients was compared to that of an age-matched healthy control group. RESULTS: The preoperative SF-36 and ODI scores were similar between the groups, except for the subscale role emotional. One year postoperatively, only the differences in 3 subscales (physical functioning, role physical, and role emotional) and in the standardized physical component reached statistical significance; the THR-patients scored worse than the LF-patients. The improvements in SF-36 and ODI reached statistical significance in both groups. INTERPRETATION: The differences in quality of life between the THR and LF patients were similar pre- and postoperatively. The quality of life of both cohorts improved considerably and significantly after the treatment, but they remained at a level significantly below that of a general age-matched population.

Aged↗

Effectiveness of exercise in management of fibromyalgia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Exercise was established as an integral part of the nonpharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia approximately 20 years ago. Since then many studies have investigated the effects of exercise-either alone or in combination with other interventions. This review will discuss the benefits of exercise alone and provide practical suggestions on how patients can exercise without causing a long-term exacerbation of their pain. RECENT FINDINGS: Short-term exercise programs for individuals with fibromyalgia have consistently improved physical function, especially physical fitness, and reduced tenderpoint pain. Exercise has also produced improvements in self-efficacy. These effects can persist for periods of up to 2 years but may require participants to continue to exercise. Most exercise studies have examined the effects of moderately intense aerobic exercise. Only in the past 2 years have muscle-strengthening programs, in isolation, been evaluated. To be well tolerated, exercise programs must start at a level just below the capacity of the participants and then progress slowly. Even with these precautions, exercise may still produce tolerable, short-term increases in pain and fatigue that should abate within the first few weeks of exercising. SUMMARY: Future studies should investigate the possible benefits of low-intensity exercise and test strategies that may enhance long-term compliance with exercise. Individuals with fibromyalgia also need to be able to access community exercise programs that are appropriate for them. This may require community instructors to receive instruction on exercise prescription and progression for individuals with fibromyalgia.

Exercise Therapy↗

Prediction of depressive symptomatology after treatment of head and neck cancer: the influence of pre-treatment physical and depressive symptoms, coping, and social support.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer and its treatment can have important psychosocial implications, and many patients become depressed. The aim of this prospective study is to examine whether pretreatment variables can be used to predict depression 6 and 12 months later. METHODS: Head and neck cancer patients (155) treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy completed a questionnaire including items on social support, coping, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and physical symptoms before and after treatment. RESULTS: By using 5 variables (physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, emotional support, extent of the social network, and avoidance coping), it was possible to predict those patients who would have symptoms at 6 (81%) and 12 months (67%) after treatment. Inclusion of actual physical symptoms reported at follow-up increased these percentages to 89% and 82%. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that screening for psychosocial variables and physical symptoms before treatment can be used to determine which patients are at risk of developing depressive symptoms after treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Impact of fibromyalgia pain on health-related quality of life before and after treatment with tramadol/acetaminophen.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with moderate-to-severe fibromyalgia pain compared with the general population, and to assess the relationship between pain severity and HRQOL before and after treatment with an analgesic. METHODS: Data were obtained from a randomized, double-blind study of patients with moderate-to-severe fibromyalgia pain. Patients received either tramadol/acetaminophen or placebo 4 times/day as needed for 91 days. HRQOL was measured with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Baseline HRQOL scores were compared with a national sample of noninstitutionalized adults and a sample of patients with impaired HRQOL due to congestive heart failure. Patients with fibromyalgia were divided into tertiles by change in pain severity, and SF-36 scores were compared across the tertiles. Mean changes in SF-36 and FIQ scores were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: Patients with fibromyalgia scored lower than the US norm on all SF-36 scales (P < 0.0001) and lower than patients with congestive heart failure on most scales. More severe pain was associated with greater impairment of HRQOL compared with less severe pain (P < 0.0001). Patients in the highest tertile for improved pain severity had greater improvement in HRQOL scores than patients in the lower tertiles. Compared with patients who received placebo (n = 157), patients treated with tramadol/acetaminophen (n = 156) showed greater improvement on SF-36 physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, and physical summary scales, as well as FIQ scales for ability to do job, pain, and stiffness (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-severe fibromyalgia pain significantly impairs HRQOL, and effective pain relief in these patients significantly increases HRQOL.

Acetaminophen↗

Measuring chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis (CINE) is one of the most dreaded side effects of cancer therapy. To investigate the influence of these symptoms on a patient's quality of life (QOL), a validated tool measuring many domains is needed. METHODS: A QOL questionnaire consisting of scales from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, the Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis, the Osoba Nausea and Emesis Module, and new items specific to nausea, emesis, and retching was constructed and administered daily for 7-9 days to outpatients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy. RESULTS: Test-retest and internal consistency reliabilities ranged from 0.44 to 0.84 and from 0.59 to 0.85, respectively. Item and scale correlations indicated good convergent and discriminant validity. Scales and items measuring similar factors (e.g., severity of emesis and severity of nausea) had strong correlations than did scales measuring dissimilar factors (e.g., cognitive functioning and physical functioning). The validity of known groups was demonstrated by significant differences (P < 0.01) in patients' QOL scores between days with no episodes of nausea, emesis, or retching, days with 1 or 2 episodes, and days with more than 3 episodes. Patients' QOL significantly decreased as the number of episodes per day increased (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A CINE QOL questionnaire that successfully measures the short-term impact of nausea, emesis, and retching on patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy has been developed, largely as a battery of preexisting questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the new questionnaire show adequate reliability and validity to warrant its use in clinical trials and outcomes studies. CINE adversely affects many domains within a patient's QOL.

Aged↗

Prediction of depression 6 months to 3 years after treatment of head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer and its treatment can have important psychosocial implications. Many patients become depressed. The aim of this prospective study is to examine whether pretreatment variables can be used to predict depression up to 3 years after treatment. METHODS: Head and neck cancer patients (n = 197) treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy completed both before and after treatment a questionnaire including items on social support, coping, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and physical symptoms. RESULTS: Eight pretreatment variables (tumor stage, sex, depressive symptoms, openness to discuss cancer in the family, available appraisal support, received emotional support, tumor-related symptoms, and size of the informal social network) were used to calculate a risk score to determine which patients were depressed at 6 months to 3 years after treatment (positive predicted value, 58%; negative predicted value, 83%). CONCLUSIONS: Eight pretreatment variables can be used to predict accurately those head and neck cancer patients who are likely to become depressed up to 3 years after treatment.

Depression↗

[Hip joint operations in routine patient management--determinants of quality of life].

The study was conducted in co-operation with a German sickness fund to identify determinants of health related quality of life (HRQL) after hip surgery in routine health care. In 9/97 all beneficiaries (age 40-75 years), which were treated in hospital for osteoarthrosis (n = 1352), were sent a questionnaire on average 5.2 months (t1), postoperatively. The standardized questionnaire contained a.o. items about pre- and postoperative subjective assessment of disease specific symptoms (Lequesne-Index), complications, comorbidity, health related quality of life (SF-36). The response rate at t1 was 67.8%. Patients with hip surgery (n = 390) were sent a second questionnaire 17.2 months (t2) postoperatively. At t2 data from 293 patients were available for analysis. Patients (57.6% male) were on average 61 years of age and 61.2% reported no co-morbidity. 88.4% received total hip replacement. 30.3% of patients reported at least one complication. HRQL in patients after hip surgery is significantly impaired in six of the eight SF-36 subscales compared to the German norms at t1 and t2. From t1 to t2 substantial improvements appear in the SF-36 subscales physical functioning, role physical and bodily pain (p < 0.001). Major determinants of HRQL are comorbidity (if yes: less improvement) and attendance of inpatient rehabilitation (if yes: more improvement). In routine healthcare HRQL after hip surgery is determined by patient characteristics and postoperative rehabilitation. Inspite of substantial improvements patients did not (yet) reach the level of the reference population.

Adult↗

The Italian version of the Body Cathexis Scale.

AIMS: Various questionnaire measures have been developed to study body attitude and affect. The Body Cathexis Scale (BCS) was the first psychometric instrument devised to measure body dissatisfaction. In this study we report the validation of the Italian version of the BCS. Reliability and validity studies were conducted on 86 female subjects with eating disorders and 404 general population subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded three factors called "Bust", "Weight-related Body Shape and Functions" and "Physical Functionality". Internal consistency was 0.90 (Cronbach's alpha). Test-retest reliability was 0.81. Criterion and concurrent validity are considered and norms as percentiles are reported for age classes.

Adolescent↗

[Health-related and disease-specific quality of life assessment after laparoscopic repeated fundoplication].

PURPOSE: In recent years, the efficacy of laparoscopic antireflux surgery has been well-documented with quality-of-life data. The aim of the present study was to describe the efficacy of laparoscopic redo-surgery using health-related and disease-specific quality-of-life data. METHODS: A sample of 30 patients with mean age of 56 years underwent laparoscopic refundoplication. In 18 patients the primary antireflux procedure was performed by the open technique. In 12 cases the primary intervention was performed laparoscopically. To evaluate quality-of-life the German SF-36 Health Survey and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) were used and given to all patients before and 3 months and 1 year after redo-surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, in two (physical functioning, role physical) out of 8 dimensions of SF-36 the values have not decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to healthy individuals. Three months after laparoscopic redo-surgery all reduced dimensions improved significantly (P < 0.05). One year after surgery all dimensions are stable and comparable to a healthy population. Prior to redo-surgery, the mean GIQLI was 86.7 points and improved significantly (P < 0.05) to 121.6 and 123.8 points (3 months and 1 year after refundoplication) and reached an equivalent level of comparable healthy individuals (122.6 points). There are no significant differences between patients with an open and laparoscopic initial antireflux procedure at all times of measurement. Postoperative data of only 28 patients were included because in two patients conversion was necessary due to operative problems. CONCLUSION: Because of these results laparoscopic refundoplication can be discussed as an effective method of treatment after failed primary antireflux procedure. Laparoscopic redo-surgery normalizes objective outcome criteria and also improves quality of life.

Adult↗