Stipa S, Fegiz G, Iascone C, Paolini A, Moraldi A, De Marchi C, Chieco P A
I Department of Surgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1990 Mar;170(3):212-6.
From 1972 to 1985, 101 consecutive patients underwent Heller's myotomy and Belsey repair (H + B) (n = 43) or Nissen fundoplication (H + N) (n = 58) for achalasia of the esophagus. There was no operative mortality after either operation; minor pulmonary complications occurred after H + B procedure in 9.3 per cent of the patients. Good to excellent long term results were achieved in 87 per cent of the patients after H + B repair and 83 per cent of the patients undergoing H + N. The failure rates were 2.5 and 11.3 per cent, respectively. The analyses of postoperative esophageal symptoms showed that the incidence of heartburn was greater after H + B repair and the incidence of obstructive symptoms was greater after H + N. The inability to vomit or belch, or both, was 10.2 per cent in the H + B group and 13.1 per cent in the H + N group. Finally, 56.4 per cent of patients after H + B repair and 41.0 per cent of those after myotomy and H + N were considered to be cured after the operative procedure was performed. Patients were improved in 41.0 and 47.3 per cent, respectively.
