Vicryl-scarf-induced scarring around esophagogastric junction as treatment of esophageal reflux disease. An experimental study in the dog.

A ringlike structure around the cardia has proven to be sufficient in preventing gastroesophageal reflux, as seen with the Angelchick prosthesis. To avoid the insertion of a nonabsorbable foreign body, a scarring was induced by implanting a Vicryl scarf around the esophagogastric junction. Reflux disease was induced in 18 dogs by circular cardiomyomectomy. In 12 dogs, a Vicryl scarf was laid around the cardia; six dogs served as controls. All of the dogs in the control group either died or had to be sacrificed due to severe reflux esophagitis. All animals receiving the scarf survived the entire duration of the experiment. Endoscopically, only one case of temporary reflux esophagitis could be detected. Long-term pH-metry demonstrated complete reflux suppression after the third postoperative month. Radiographically, esophagogastric transit was always unimpaired. On autopsy, the scarf was found to have changed into a slim scarring after the sixth postoperative month and then remained unaltered. We conclude that inducing scarring around the cardia is as effective in reflux prevention as the silicone ring.