Management of postfundoplication complications.

The role of surgical therapy in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) continues to evolve in the laparoscopic era. As the number of surgical procedures increases, so does the number of patients with postfundoplication complications. The most effective strategy is to prevent the complication in the first place. Patients who are most likely to have trouble after surgery are those with refractory, atypical, or complicated disease. Gastroenterologists should take care to make an accurate diagnosis, heal the esophagitis, and dilate any strictures before sending a patient to surgery. The surgeon should be a skilled laparoscopist. In patients with complicated GERD, the surgeon must be able to recognize severe disease and perform advanced procedures. Postoperatively, symptoms are usually the same (suggesting a failure of the operation or incorrect original diagnosis) or different (suggesting a complication) than before surgery. Most patients should have a barium swallow and an endoscopy to evaluate the integrity of the wrap. If intact, postoperative heartburn and dysphagia will usually resolve with conservative therapy. If the fundoplication is poorly oriented, too long, too tight, twisted, or herniated above the diaphragm, surgical revision is often necessary.