Conservative surgery in reflux stricture of the oesophagus associated with hiatal hernia

During a 7-year period, 130 patients with oesophageal stricture resulting from long-standing reflux oesophagitis and hiatal hernia were referred for surgery. Eighty-seven of these patients underwent conservative surgery consisting of intraoperative transgastric retrograde dilatation combined with one of two types of anti-reflux operation: in 34 patients (group 1) an Allison-type operation for hiatal hernia was undertaken, and in the remaining 53 patients (group 2), a Nissen-type fundoplication was carried out. In 22 patients in this latter group the oesophagogastric junction could not be brought down into the abdomen in spite of extensive oesophageal mobilization and the fundoplication was finally placed above the diaphragm. From the successful results in both groups (particularly in group 2), it is concluded that conservative surgery should be considered in cases of hiatal hernia with a reflux stricture that yields to intraoperative dilatation.