[Peroperative manometric evaluation of posterior fundoplication by celioscopy]

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate objectively the effects of a laparoscopic posterior fundoplication on the pressure and length of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) and to compare these results to those of a group of patient who underwent the same technique through a laparotomy. Fourty six patients were included in the laparoscopic group and 48 in the open group. Intraoperative manometry was performed using the same material before and after the posterior fundoplication (after evacuating the pneumoperitoneum). Criteria of assessment were the increases in pressure and length of the LOS. The two groups were comparable regarding age, rate of hiatal hernia, and stage of the oesophagitis. In the laparoscopic group, the mean pressure of LOS (mmHg) increased from 10.1 +/- 3.8 to 35.2 +/- 12 after the fundoplication (that is 3.5 times) and the length of LOS (cm) increased from 3.4 +/- 0.8 to 4.8 +/- 0.8 (that is 1.4 times). In the open group the increase was for the pressure and length respectively 3.3 times and 1.5 times the initial values. Thus by performing the same procedure we obtained the same effects on the pressure and length of the LOS. The effectiveness of laparoscopic posterior fundoplication should be similar to that of the open procedure.