Nissen fundoplication. Results at 10 year follow-up

Between 1970 and 1973, 94 patients underwent Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux; 60 of the 94 patients returned for follow-up study in 1982. The same surgeon operated on all the patients, and another physician who did not participate in the treatment interviewed the attending patients. Four patients (7 percent) had persistent symptoms, 7 patients had recurrent symptoms (in 3, during the first postoperative year, and in four, 2 to 10 years postoperatively), and 47 (78 percent) had postfundoplication symptoms which were moderate in most but disturbing in some. Some technical details in the performance of the fundoplication could reduce the frequency of the fundoplication symptoms. Because recurrent symptoms may appear late, even 10 years or more after operation, a definitive evaluation of the results of Nissen fundoplication is impossible to perform.