Gastro-oesophageal reflux after surgical treatment of hiatal hernia with and without severe reflux complications. A follow-up study.

One hundred and sixteen patients operated upon for hiatal hernia with gastro-oesophageal reflux and with or without reflux complications were postoperatively examined by personal interview, X-ray study, pH measurements and study of the oesophageal motility 1 to 10 years postoperatively. The patients without severe reflux complications were operated upon mainly with a modified Husfeldt hernia repair and the patients with complications, such as oesophageal stricture and shortening, underwent various surgical procedures. The main reason for unsatisfactory clinical results, with persistent reflux symptoms, was gastro-oesophageal reflux uncorrected by the surgical procedure. However, gastro-oesophageal reflux was detected even in completely asymptomatic patients. It was found that the reflux symptoms were influenced by the oesophageal motility. The clinical results were better and recurrence of hernia and the occurrence of pathological reflux were lower in patients operated upon for hernia without severe reflux complications. Creation of a competent antireflux barrier between the oesophagus and stomach for control of gastro-oesophageal reflux is much more difficult in patients with severe reflux complications.