Total fundoplication gastroplasty: Long-term follow-up in 500 patients

Abstract

Total fundoplication gastroplasty was designed to combine the low anatomic recurrence rate of gastroplasty with the effectiveness of reflux control obtained by total wrap. The problems requiring evaluation are anatomic recurrence, continued reflux, dysphagia, inability to belch or vomit, and gas bloat, all of which have been described in procedures employing a total wrap. Five hundred consecutive patients were analyzed 6 to 60 months following operation. There were no deaths and a 3.6% incidence of short-term operative morbidity. Follow-up was available clinically in 98.4% (495 patients), radiologically in 89.6% (448), and manometrically in 69.5% (347). Two patients have anatomic recurrence (0.4%) and none has reflux. Excellent results occurred in 93.4% (467), improvement in 5% (25), and poor results in 1.6% (eight). Repeat operation was necessary in 0.4% (two) for recurrence and in 0.8% (four) for severe dysphagia. The other problems were minor dysphagia in 2.2% (11), gastritis in 1.2% (six), late cholelithiasis in 0.4% (two), and continued pain with poor results in 0.4% (two). The length of the gastroplasty tube and the subdiaphragmatic position of the high-pressure zone (HPZ) did not affect the result of the operation. A long tube and unwrapped supradiaphragmatic HPZ was present in 18.8% (94); none had reflux or major dysphagia. Total length of the gastroplasty wrap was 3 to 4 cm in the first 200 and the incidence of major dysphagia was 5% (10). Reducing the length of fundoplication to 1.5 to 2 cm reduced the incidence of dysphagia to 1.7% (five). Other problems of gastritis and difficulty with belching and vomiting occurred in a random fashion. This procedure is effective in reflux control, prevents anatomic recurrence and, if the completed fundoplication is maintained at 1.5 to 2 cm, yields a low incidence of significant dysphagia.