Esophageal angulation after hiatoplasty and fundoplication: a cause of dysphagia?

Hiatoplasty is generally considered an essential part of antireflux operations. Posterior closure of an enlarged hiatus may lead to anterior displacement of the esophagus and it may be contributory to postoperative dysphagia. the aims of this study were to (i) measure the normal esophageal anteroposterior angulation, (ii) evaluate the variation of the angulation after laparoscopic hiatoplasty and fundoplication, and (iii) correlate the angulation with postoperative dysphagia. Normal esophageal anteroposterior angle determined by barium preoperative barium esophagram was evaluated based on the study of 100 patients. Postoperative angulation was evaluated based on the study of 32 patients who underwent barium esophagram after laparoscopic hiatoplasty and fundoplication. the results showed that the normal esophageal anteroposterior angle was 150.4 +/- 10.7 (range 119-169) degrees. There was no correlation between the angle and gender (P = 0.6) or age (P = 0.1). Postoperative angle averaged 146.6 +/- 11.7 (range 122-170) degrees. Normal and post-operative angle were not different (P = 0.1). the difference between post- and preoperative angle averaged 0.7 +/- 8.9 (range -15-14). There was no statistically significant difference when pre- and post-operative angles were compared (P = 0.6). de novo dysphagia was present in 31% of the 32 postoperative patients. There was no statistically significant difference when the angles in patients with and without de novo dysphagia were compared (P = 0.2). We concluded that (i) laparoscopic hiatoplasty and fundoplication does not significantly change the esophageal anteroposterior angle; and (ii) de novo dysphagia is not with the esophageal anteroposterior angle.Univ Calif San Francisco, Dept Surg, San Francisco, CA 94143 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc