Higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease after gastric wedge resections of gastric submucosal tumors located close to the gastroesophageal junction

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) would be more prevalent after a gastric wedge resection of a submucosal tumor (SMT) located close to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) than after a gastric wedge resection of an SMT at other locations because of the damage to the lower esophageal sphincter during surgery. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with gastric SMT who underwent open or laparoscopic gastric wedge resection between January 2000 and August 2012 at the Department of Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital were enrolled into this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the location of the tumor, upper or lateral border of the tumor within 5 cm of the GEJ (GEJ ≤ 5 cm group) and upper or lateral border of the tumor greater than 5 cm distal to the GEJ (GEJ > 5 cm group). The surgical records, clinicopathologic findings, postoperative GERD symptoms, postoperative use of acid suppressive medications and preoperative and postoperative endoscopic findings were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in the frequency of the preoperative GERD symptoms between the 2 groups, whereas postoperative GERD symptoms and postoperative use of acid suppressive medications were more frequent in the GEJ ≤ 5 cm group (P = 0.045 and P = 0.031). However, there were no differences in the follow-up endoscopic findings in terms of reflux esophagitis and Hill's grade between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of GERD was higher after gastric wedge resection of SMTs located close to the GEJ. Hence, adequate care should be taken during the follow-up of these patients.