Late laparoscopic reoperation of failed antireflux procedures

Failures of antireflux procedures occur in 5% to 10% of the patients. Our objective is to report our experience with laparoscopic management of failed antireflux operations. Of 1698 patients who underwent laparoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), 53 were reoperations following either a previous open or laparoscopic antireflux procedure. The indications for surgical reoperation were persistent or recurrent GERD in 35 patients (66%), presence of paraesophageal hiatal hernia in 4 (7.5%), and severe dysphagia in 14 (26.4%). Hospital stay varied from 1 to 8 days, with an average of 1.2 days. Conversion to open laparotomy occurred in 10 patients (18.8%). The main causes for persistent or recurrent GERD were herniation (n=20) and disruption (n=12) of the fundoplication. Two patients had both herniation and disruption of the fundoplication. The main reason for severe dysphagia was tight hiatus. The most common reoperations were hiatal repair for hernia correction (n=26), redo fundoplication (n=16), and widening of the hiatus (n=12). Two patients had both hiatal repair and redo fundoplication. Intra (n=5) and postoperative (n=16) complications were frequent, but they were usually minor. There was no mortality. The present study demonstrated that laparoscopic reoperation for failed antireflux procedures may be performed safely in most patients with excellent result, low severe morbidity, and no mortality.