A Grant

Dr A Grant, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; a.grant@abdn.ac.uk

STUDY DESIGN

Design:

randomised controlled trial and economic analysis. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15517081.

Allocation concealment:

concealed.*

Blinding:

unblinded.*

STUDY QUESTION

Setting:

21 hospitals in the UK.

Patients:

357 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 46 y, 66% men) who had documented evidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and symptoms for >12 months and for whom the best management policy was uncertain. Exclusion criteria included body mass index >40 kg/m², Barrett oesophagus >3 cm, evidence of dysplasia, paraoesophageal hernia, and oesophageal stricture.

Intervention:

a strategy of laparoscopic fundoplication (technique selected by surgeon) (n = 178) or a strategy of best medical management with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine-receptor antagonists (n = 179).

Outcomes:

primary outcome was …