Dilation After Fundoplication Can Resolve Postoperative Dysphagia

To resolve postoperative dysphagia, dilation can be performed safely during the early postoperative period after fundoplication.

Dysphagia following fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease is relatively common, but the best postoperative management has not been established. To assess how patients with postoperative dysphagia and other symptoms respond to dilation, researchers retrospectively reviewed outcomes of 233 consecutive fundoplications (215 Nissen; 18 Toupet). All patients underwent preoperative manometry, and patients with dysphagia had postoperative endoscopy, barium studies, or both.

Postoperative dilation was performed in 29 (12.4%) patients; 20 had dysphagia, and the others had chest pain, gas bloat, vomiting, belching, globus, or epigastric pain. Savary-wire-guided dilation was performed in all but 3 patients (2 underwent Maloney bougie dilati…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD