The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 26, 563-573, Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Gastroesophageal reflux following gastric operation
RD Henderson
The combination of previous gastric operation and gastroesophageal reflux
produces major difficulties in obtaining effective symptomatic relief.
Seventy patients were studied by history, radiology, endoscopy, and
esophageal manometry before surgical reflux control. Twenty-eight had had
vagotomy and pyloroplasty; 4, vagotomy and gastroenterostomy; 11, Billroth
I gastrectomy; and 27, Billroth II gastrectomy. In all patients reflux
control was accomplished by hernia repair, and in 14 patients bile
diversion was added for control of bile gastritis. A variety of reflux
control operations were used. However, the most effective results were
achieved with total fundoplication gastroplasty, and in this group of 22
patients there has been no anatomical recurrence and no reflux. The partial
fundoplication gastroplasty (Belsey type) was ineffective in reflux control
and should not be used in patients who have had a previous gastric
procedure. Reflux control and, when necessary, bile diversion give
effective relief to patients with bile gastritis and esophageal reflux
following gastric operation.