Low inter-rater reliability and variability in assessing laparoscopic fundoplication with endoscopy

This study evaluated the inter-rater reliability and variability in assessing laparoscopic fundoplication using endoscopy. A total of 101 participants, including upper gastrointestinal surgeons and gastroenterologists, analyzed ten static endoscopic images post-fundoplication. The study found that overall accuracy was 76% for upper gastrointestinal surgeons and 69.9% for gastroenterologists. Upper gastrointestinal surgeons performed significantly better in certain cases, particularly in describing the integrity of the fundoplication. The study highlights the need for a standardized reporting system to improve consistency and reliability in assessing post-fundoplication patients.