[Reoperations for persistent or recurrent gastroesophageal reflux after surgical treatment]

Thirty one cases of failed antireflux surgery were analyzed. The first operation had been performed on 24 patients with uncomplicated reflux and 7 patients with complicated reflux. There was an abnormality of the cardia in all cases. Twenty eight patients had been operated through an abdominal approach and 3 through a thoracic approach. The failure was diagnosed during the first year in 12 patients. The reflux became complicated in 17 cases. Oesophageal stenosis was the most common complication. Twenty four patients were reoperated through an abdominal approach and 7 through a thoracic approach. In 29 cases out of 31, an anatomical cause of the failure was found and rectified. Mortality was nil. The results of iterative surgery were good in 80 p. cent of cases after a mean follow up of 6 years.