A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating PAtients With Lax Gastroesophageal Junction to Initial Sleeve Gastrectomy With or Without Concomitant Crural Repair (REPAIR)

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most common bariatric procedures performed worldwide, accounting for more than 50% of all bariatric procedures, and with respectable weight loss and metabolic benefits which are comparable to the gold standard laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. However, one of the main disadvantages of LSG is its tendency to cause post-operative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive esophagitis (EE).

To date, it is widely accepted that LSG should be avoided for patients with underlying GERD or EE. However, there is no consensus for asymptomatic patients, including those with an underlying hiatal hernia, which is known to predispose to GERD.

Currently, the two commonly employed methods for endoscopic classification of a hiatal hernia are via its axial length, or by grading the gastroesophageal flap valve, better known as the Hill's classification system.

Multiple retrospective cohort studies have documented a reduction in postoperative GERD following a concomitant LSG with a hiatal hernia repair, in patients with a preoperative diagnosed hiatal hernia. However, to date, there is only one randomized controlled trial which compared the efficacy of concomitant LSG with or without a concomitant hiatal hernia repair. Of the 100 patients, the trial did not report any differences in the incidence of postoperative GERD between the 2 groups. However, the trial had several limitations. Firstly, it included patients with no underlying hiatal hernia. In fact, of the 100 patients, 25 of them have no underlying hiatal hernia, thus may favour the outcome towards the null hypothesis. Subsequently, though the study attempted to randomize participants, while most baseline characteristics are well randomized, the most crucial element in the study, which was the length of the hiatal hernia, was significantly different between the 2 groups. Thirdly, the primary outcome was a subjective score via the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Lastly, assessment of the presence of a hiatal hernia via the axial length is known to be operator-dependent, as well as subject to changes between inspiration and expiration, which can make its assessment less objective.

The investigators' propose using the alternative classification system for grading a hiatal hernia, called the Hill's classification system, to determine the preoperative hiatal laxity of the gastroesophageal flap valve, to determine which patients will likely benefit from a LSG with a concomitant hiatal hernia repair. The system, first introduced by Hill et al in 1996, was derived from an observational study of 13 cadavers to determine the presence of an anti-reflux valve and hiatal hernia. In the absence of a hiatal hernia, the angle of His, defined as the acute angulation along the greater curve of the stomach where the esophagus enters the stomach, creates a flap valve mechanism. This laxity of this flap valve varies and can be objectively graded based on the Hill's classification. This classification has been shown to be superior to the axial measurement of a hiatal hernia in the endoscopic assessment of the gastroesophageal junction and its association with GERD.