Retrospective study of the surgical management of reflux esophagitis

Surgical management of reflux esophagitis in 101 patients was reviewed. All antireflux operations at this medical center between January 1970 and September 1978 were included. The most successful and least morbid procedure was found to be the Hill-Nissen posterior gastropexy with fundoplication. Twenty-two patients in the study group underwent second and third operations for recurrent reflux esophagitis. Patients undergoing operation for a recurrence were found to have increased operative morbidity and an increased chance of further recurrence. There were ten instances of incidental splenectomy, and this factor was found to be associated with increased postoperative morbidity. Postoperatively, the most common complication was related to pulmonary atelectasis.