Intra-abdominal migration of an antireflux prosthesis. A cause of bizarre pain.

Use of an antireflux prosthesis (Angelchik prosthesis) in the surgical treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux has increased steadily during the past several years. This report describes a patient in whom this device broke away from its insertion site at the cardioesophageal junction and migrated through the abdominal cavity to the pelvis. Variable abdominal and pelvic symptoms accompanied this passage, and abdominal roentgenograms identified the final pelvic location. Breakaway was caused by avulsion of the tie straps from the prosthesis. Four additional cases of migratory antireflux prostheses are reported briefly. Physicians should be aware that bizarre and otherwise unexplained abdominal pain in patients with this device may result from dislocation and migration of the prosthesis through the abdominal cavity. Abdominal roentgenograms are diagnostic and define the extent of migration.