[Long-term results of thoracic truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty in complicated reflux disease].

In advanced cases of esophagitis with acquired short esophagus and stricture, operative treatment to eliminate gastroesophageal reflux may be difficult or impossible. 24 such patients were treated by transthoracic truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty. In a long-term follow-up 9--11 years later 12 patients were examined by X-ray and esophagoscopy. In 9 patients symptoms due to reflux or obstruction had improved, 5 of them were symptom-free. At endoscopy and barium-swallow 2 patients showed back-formation of their stricture, the other patients had generally unchanged findings. Transthoracic truncal vagotomy with drainage seems to be able to prevent progression of severe esophagitis and to improve its symptoms.