Surgical management of the failed gastroplasty

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.