[Intraoperative manometry during functional surgery of the esophagus]

The purpose of this investigation was to verify the suitability of intra-operative manometry in the course of functional surgery of the esophagus, especially with reference to the results obtained in terms of sphincter functionality, related to the overall changes in symptoms and pH-metry. The practice disclosed herein refers solely to the Heller-Dor operation for esophageal achalasia and to the Nissen Rossetti operation for gastro-esophageal reflux. The promising results obtained using this method to achieve a complete myotomy during Heller's operation, in our opinion testify in favor of its usefulness with this type of surgical procedure. On the contrary, for preparing a fundoplication we feel that method is of orientative value only, since there is no correspondence between the values obtained at the end of the fundoplication and those recorded 18 to 24 months after surgery. The predictive nature of the examination is thus denied.