Paraoesophageal hernia repair with and without concomitant fundoplication

There is currently no consensus as to whether an antireflux procedure should accompany surgical repair of paraoesophageal hernia. Forty consecutive patients with paraoesophageal hernia were studied. Surgery routinely included transabdominal hernia reduction, excision of the sac and crural repair. The addition of fundoplication was based on the presence of preoperative endoscopic evidence of oesophagitis. Twenty-three patients without endoscopic oesophagitis had no antireflux procedure whereas 17 with oesophagitis underwent concomitant antireflux surgery. Thirty-six patients were followed for 1-7 years. Patients without endoscopic oesophagitis had no postoperative reflux problems. All patients with oesophagitis who underwent fundoplication were improved or cured of reflux. The selection of patients for antireflux repair can satisfactorily be based on preoperative endoscopic findings.