Hoarseness and misdirected swallowing before and after antireflux surgery

Abstract

Conclusion Patients with hiatus hernia can be relieved from H, MSL and MSN by hiatus hernia repair.

Objective It has been hypothesized that respiratory symptoms in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) may, in some cases, be due to misdirected swallowing as a consequence of defective opening of the upper oesophageal sphincter. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with hiatus hernia are relieved from symptoms of misdirected swallowing to the larynx (MSL) and nose (MSN), as well as hoarseness (H), as a result of hiatus hernia repair.

Material and methods A questionnaire concerning symptoms of H, MSL and MSN was administered to 90 patients under investigation for hiatus hernia repair before and after surgery.

Results Before surgery, MSL occurred in 30% of patients, MSN in 30% and H in 25%. These symptoms were significantly interrelated (p<0.008). After antireflux surgery, all symptoms were significantly reduced (p<0.001). Symptom reduction was not related to the weight of the patients.

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• hiatus hernia
• hiatus hernia repair
• upper oesophageal sphincter dysfunction