Antireflux band mucosectomy: a novel minimally invasive approach for the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease

GERD is one of the most prevalent digestive diseases, involving approximately 1 in 5 within the United States. Medical therapy and lifestyle modifications are highly effective for most patients with GERD. Despite this, refractory GERD affects 30% to 45% of patients. This subset of the patient population may require endoscopic or surgical approaches to achieve clinical resolution of symptoms.^, Endoscopic procedures tend to be less invasive and include transoral endoscopic incisionless fundoplication (TIF), Stretta, and antireflux mucosectomy (ARMS). Antireflux surgical techniques include Nissen’s fundoplication, which yields impressive clinical improvement. However, it is highly invasive and carries additional risks. Here, we showcase the antireflux band-assisted mucosectomy (ARBM) for the successful treatment of refractory GERD.

Patient 1 is a 58-year-old man with a history of GERD who presented with acid regurgitation and nausea. No dysphagia was reported. He completed a barium esophagram confirming normal motility and found a small hiatal hernia. Preprocedure EGD visualized mucosal damage consistent with nonerosive esophagitis, hill grade 2 valve, and a small hiatal hernia <1 cm (Fig. 1). The pH bravo test off proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) was positive for reflux (DeMeester score 28.8, acid exposure time 7.4), and he had partial symptom improvement on maximal dose PPI twice daily. The patient was presented with both surgical and endoscopic options and declined surgical intervention. Multiple endoscopic therapies were offered, including TIF, ARMS, and ARBM. We also discussed that we believed the ARBM procedure would be safe owing to no active resection. The risk and benefits of all the procedures were discussed, and the patient decided to proceed with ARBM.

An adult gastroscope was advanced to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and into the stomach. Next, the gastroscope was retroflexed to view the cardia and fundus. Then, band ligation with suction was applied parallel to the angle of His (Fig. 2). A total of 4 bands were positioned around the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) (Fig. 3). Once band application was complete, constriction of the EGJ was clearly displayed (Fig. 4A and B). There were no adverse events during and after the completion of the procedure (Video 1, available online at www.giejournal.org). The patient was discharged on the same day. He was weaned off his PPI 2 weeks after the procedure. At 3 months follow-up, the patient reported complete resolution of his symptoms. The repeat EGD with pH test was done at 3 months, demonstrating complete acid control postprocedure (DeMeester score 1.5, acid exposure time 0.4) (Fig. 5).

The ARBM procedure was performed in a total of 4 patients. All procedures were technically successful. All patients had a significant decrease in their DeMeester scores and acid exposure time. No adverse events occurred before, during, or after the procedure. All patients were able to stop PPIs by 4 weeks postprocedure. Demographic and clinical data for all patients are presented in Table 1.

Refractory GERD can significantly impair the quality of life.^, While Nissen’s fundoplication is an excellent option for these patients, it is an invasive procedure with side effects and can significantly impair the venting of swallowed air. Endoscopic therapies such as TIF have relatively few side effects, but their effectiveness can be inconsistent. One study reported that only 39% of patients could discontinue PPI use post-TIF. The Stretta procedure is thought to increase the LES tone through radiofrequency ablation to induce scarring and fibrosis. Still, a recent metanalysis of 4 randomized controlled trials determined there was no meaningful change in LES pressure. No statistical improvement in stopping PPIs and GERD symptom scores was found.^, ARMS uses piecemeal mucosectomy with or without band ligation to cause scarring and fibrosis, narrowing the EGJ. However, average procedure times can be lengthy, ranging from 35 to 76 minutes. Our proposed technique avoids the active resection portion of the procedure in favor of circumferential band placement around the EGJ. The band placement narrows the EGJ through the constriction of the mucosa by using the exact mechanisms as ARMS. Furthermore, both ARMS and ARBM resect/band the cardia. The cardia naturally retroflexes with the valve, which facilitates banding along the valve and cardia. After each band is placed, we evaluate for valve tightening; if it is observed, we cease band placement. We only band 280 to 300 degrees along the cardia. Based on earlier ARMS data, complete circumferential banding may lead to high-grade strictures. The risk of stricture is thought to be increased when resection takes place in the esophagus. The lack of active resection in ARBM is speculated to increase its safety profile with a reduced risk of bleeding and perforation. Additionally, this procedure was completed in 6 minutes, showcasing its technical simplicity. The ARBM procedure should be considered in patients who decline surgery and have a hiatal hernia <2 cm, a hill grade ≤2, and an abnormal pH study with symptomatic reflux. The efficacy, safety, and speed of the ARBM will need to be evaluated in future studies.

ARBM is a novel minimally invasive endoscopic intervention that only uses band ligation and therefore has the potential to be a safer, faster, and less technically challenging alternative compared with other endoscopic and surgical interventions.