1. Excellent quality of life after Nissen fundoplication depends on successful elimination of reflux symptoms and not the invasiveness of the surgical approach 
Christopher G Streets, MRCS, Steven R DeMeester, MD, Tom R DeMeester, MD, Jeffrey H Peters, MD, Jeffrey A Hagen, MD, Peter F Crookes, MD, Cedric G Bremner, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 74, Issue 4, Pages (October 2002)
DOI: /S (02)

2. Fig 1
Polar graph showing the health concept scores from the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey. There is no significant difference in postoperative quality of life between patients who underwent either a laparoscopic or a transthoracic Nissen fundoplication at a median follow-up of 25 and 31 months, respectively. Reported normal values for the United States (US) are shown for comparison.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02) )

3. Fig 2
Responses to the question about residual pain in the incision site by each of the patients after either laparoscopic or transthoracic Nissen fundoplication. There was no difference between the groups beyond 4 years. Interestingly, up to 3 years after laparoscopic Nissen procedures, some patients complained of pain most of the time. Clearly individual perceptions about residual pain vary widely, and residual pain is not an exclusive feature of a transthoracic operation.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02) )

4. Fig 3
Polar graph showing the health concept scores from the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey and questionnaire divided into those patients free of reflux symptoms and those patients who had persistent or recurrent reflux symptoms or who had resumed taking acid suppression medication postoperatively. Those free of symptoms and medications scored higher in each of the eight major health categories.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /S (02) )