The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 91, 46-52, Copyright © 1986 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Surgical management of the failed gastroplasty
RD Henderson
Gastroplasty has been used in surgical management of reflux for 25 years.
The creation of a gastric tube before fundoplication complicates further
corrective procedures should the original operation fail. Experience has
been gained with 51 patients, 34 having partial fundoplication gastroplasty
and 17 having total fundoplication, who have had major persistent or
recurrent symptoms. All were evaluated by history, radiology, endoscopy,
manometry with pH, and acid perfusion testing before surgical management.
The patients undergoing partial fundoplication gastroplasty had heartburn
(85.3%), reflux (70.6%), and dysphagia (94.1%). Radiologic recurrence was
present in 26.5%, endoscopic incompetence in 94.1%, and a stricture in
26.5%. The patients who had a total fundoplication gastroplasty had
heartburn (52.9%), reflux (29.4%), and dysphagia (82.4%). Radiologic
recurrence was present in 29.4%, endoscopic incompetence in 35.3%, and a
stricture in 5.9%. On average, these patients had had 2.3 prior operations
(range one to five operations). The dominant cause of failure (in the
absence of anatomic recurrence) with partial fundoplication gastroplasty
was continued or recurrent reflux and with total fundoplication
gastroplasty, too tight or too long a fundoplication. All patients had a
thoracoabdominal revision total fundoplication gastroplasty and a 1 cm
completion fundoplication. Pyloromyotomy was added if not previously
performed. There were no deaths or major morbidity. Follow-up in 51
patients averages 4.2 years (range 0.3 to 8.8 years). None has radiologic
recurrence, one has minor reflux, one a traumatic diverticulum, and one has
moderate esophageal obstruction. Of these patients, 82.4% are asymptomatic,
13.7% have minor symptoms, and 3.9% (two patients) have significant
residual symptoms. This conservative surgical approach avoids the higher
mortality of resection with interposition and provides satisfactory
results.