Clinical Outcomes of 3D Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair Either Combined With Toupet Fundoplication or Nissen Fundoplication: A Comparative Analysis

AIM: This study aimed to perform a rigorous comparison of perioperative and functional outcomes between the 3D laparoscopic Toupet (270° posterior partial fundoplication) vs. Nissen (360° total fundoplication) for hiatal hernia (HH) repair in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 103 patients with HH and GERD who underwent surgery between January 2020 and May 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on surgical technique: the Toupet group (n = 53) and the Nissen group (n = 50). Outcomes included surgical metrics, pre/postoperative high-resolution manometry, 24-hour pH-impedance, gastroesophageal reflux disease symptom questionnaire (GERD-Q) and gastroesophageal reflux disease health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) scores, and complications. Multivariable regression adjusted for baseline differences. RESULTS: The Toupet group demonstrated significantly shorter time to first postoperative oral intake (p = 0.012) and hospital stays (p = 0.023) compared to the Nissen group. At 6 months postoperatively, both groups showed significant increases in minimum lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressure and respiratory mean values, along with decreases in reflux-related parameters and ineffective swallowing ratio (p < 0.001). Intergroup comparison revealed that the Toupet group had lower minimum LES resting pressure, respiratory mean LES pressure, and ineffective swallowing ratio, but higher 24-hour reflux episodes, percentage acid exposure time, and mean DeMeester scores than the Nissen group (p < 0.001). At 1 year postoperatively, both groups exhibited significant improvements in GERD-Q and GERD-HRQL scores (p < 0.001), with no intergroup differences observed (p > 0.05). The Toupet group had significantly lower overall complication rates (p = 0.031) and a lower incidence of dysphagia than the Nissen group (p = 0.019). Multivariable regression analyses confirmed that the Toupet procedure was an independent predictor for shorter time to first postoperative oral intake (p = 0.015), shorter hospital stays (p = 0.017), and lower overall complication rates (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, when performed with 3D laparoscopy, Toupet and Nissen fundoplication show distinct and meaningful clinical profiles. Nissen fundoplication is the preferred option for achieving maximal anti-reflux efficacy in patients with normal esophageal motility, whereas Toupet fundoplication is preferred for minimizing postoperative dysphagia and enhancing rapid recovery, particularly in cases with impaired or borderline motility.