Surgical correction of reflux. An effective therapy for esophageal strictures.

An effective antireflux operation, posterior gastropexy with cardiac calibration, was performed on 24 patients with well established peptic strictures of the esophagus. Without intraoperative or postoperative dilation, the diameter of the strictures went from a mean of 6.3 mm to a postoperative mean diameter of 13.0 mm. Significant increases in sphincter pressure were recorded and endoscopic evaluation showed a return to normal. Preoperative dysphagia was relieved. It is concluded that an adequate antireflux operation will obviate the need for postoperative dilations or more formidable operations such as interposition.