Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux.

During 1978 and 1979 20 patients were subjected to fundoplication. All these patients had abnormal oesophageal acid reflux as demonstrated by 18-hour pH-monitoring of the distal oesophagus. They had also complications of this reflux, i.e. oesophageal ulcerations or stricture formation. The patients were reexamined two months postoperatively and 5-22 (mean 13.3) months after operation. The patients' satisfaction was high after operation and the oesophagitis was cured in all. The oesophagus was lengthened from 35.8 +/- S.D. 1.85 cm to 38.7 +/- S.D. 2.25 cm after fundoplication (p less than 0.05) as measured by endoscopy. The mechanism of success of this operation may be related to the return of LES to the intra-abdominal compartment, but also a flutter valve mechanism may be operative.