Surgical vs. Medical Therapy for GERD: A Cost Comparison

Therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has undergone many advances during the last decade. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the standard of care for medical therapy, and laparoscopic fundoplication is the standard for surgical therapy. Although both approaches are effective, their costs are considerable: Surgery engenders extensive initial costs, whereas medical therapy engenders ongoing costs. Prospective direct cost comparisons of the 2 approaches are lacking. Researchers used data from a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial to conduct an economic analysis of PPI therapy versus surgery for GERD.

The study was carried out in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and involved patients with GERD who were treated initially wi…