Selective vagotomy of the canine oesophagus--a model for the treatment of hiatal hernia.

Hiatal herniation caused by contraction of the longitudinal muscle of the oesophagus has been prevented by disconnecting the local vagal nerve supply while preserving the vagal connections to more distant organs. A selective oesophageal vagotomy above the lung hilum may prove an effective adjunct to orthodox hiatal hernia repair in man.