BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia has been validated worldwide in the past decade. However, hiatal hernia recurrence still represents the most frequent long-term complication after primary repair. Different techniques for hiatal closure have been recommended, but the problem remains unsolved. The authors theorized that ultrastructural alterations may be implicated in hiatal hernia. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the presence of these alterations in patients with or without hiatal hernia. METHODS: Samples from Laimer-Bertelli connective membrane and muscular crura at the esophageal hiatus were collected from 19 patients with GERD and hiatal hernia (HH group), and from 7 patients without hiatal hernia enrolled as the control group (NHH group). Specimens were processed and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Muscle and connective samples from the NHH group did not present any ultrastructural alteration that could be detected by transmission electron microscopy. Similarly, connective samples from the HH group showed no ultrastructural alterations. In contrast, all muscle samples from the HH group exhibited sarcolemmal alterations, subsarcolemmal vacuolar degeneration, extended disruption of sarcotubular complexes, increased intermyofibrillar spaces, and sarcomere splitting. CONCLUSION: The evidence of ultrastructural alterations in all the patients in the HH group raises the suspicion that the long-term outcomes of antireflux surgery depend not only on the surgical technique, but also on the underlying muscular diaphragmatic illness.
BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia has been validated worldwide in the past decade. However, hiatal hernia recurrence still represents the most frequent long-term complication after primary repair. Different techniques for hiatal closure have been recommended, but the problem remains unsolved. The authors theorized that ultrastructural alterations may be implicated in hiatal hernia. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the presence of these alterations in patients with or without hiatal hernia. METHODS: Samples from Laimer-Bertelli connective membrane and muscular crura at the esophageal hiatus were collected from 19 patients with GERD and hiatal hernia (HH group), and from 7 patients without hiatal hernia enrolled as the control group (NHH group). Specimens were processed and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Muscle and connective samples from the NHH group did not present any ultrastructural alteration that could be detected by transmission electron microscopy. Similarly, connective samples from the HH group showed no ultrastructural alterations. In contrast, all muscle samples from the HH group exhibited sarcolemmal alterations, subsarcolemmal vacuolar degeneration, extended disruption of sarcotubular complexes, increased intermyofibrillar spaces, and sarcomere splitting. CONCLUSION: The evidence of ultrastructural alterations in all the patients in the HH group raises the suspicion that the long-term outcomes of antireflux surgery depend not only on the surgical technique, but also on the underlying muscular diaphragmatic illness.
Authors: Gianluca Rossetti; Luigi Brusciano; Giuseppe Amato; Vincenzo Maffettone; Vincenzo Napolitano; Gianluca Russo; Domenico Izzo; Federica Russo; Francesco Pizza; Gianmattia Del Genio; Alberto Del Genio Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: F A Granderath; M A Carlson; J K Champion; A Szold; N Basso; R Pointner; C T Frantzides Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2006-01-19 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Sergio Diaz; L Michael Brunt; Mary E Klingensmith; Peggy M Frisella; Nathaniel J Soper Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: James M Tatum; Evan Alicuben; Nikolai Bildzukewicz; Kamran Samakar; Caitlin C Houghton; John C Lipham Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2018-07-13 Impact factor: 4.584