[30 years' experience with posterior fundoplasty in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (analysis of 1499 cases)].

Posterior fundoplasty, is an antireflux procedure we introduced in 1966 after experimental laboratory trials and published in 1969. To data, we have operated more than 2,000 cas. Although we now also use laparoscopic procedures, the present study reports our experience with 1499 patients who underwent the conventional procedure and who have been followed for 4 to 30 years. Mortality has been nil and mean failure rate was 9.6%. One important feature of this technique is the low incidence of undesirable effects: 3.66% dysphagia (none required dilatation), 3.94% impossibility to vomit, and 4.94% difficulties in belching. This study establishes comparisons between this group of 1499 patients and another group of 68 patients who underwent the original Nissen procedure performed under laparoscopy by the same surgeon and followed for a similar period. Such a larger personal series followed for 30 years is rare in the medical literature.