The efficacy of Thal fundoplication in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux: the influence of central nervous system impairment.

One hundred sixteen patients underwent a modified Thal fundoplication to correct gastroesophageal reflux (GER) between July 1, 1983, and January 30, 1987. Ninety-one percent of patients were relieved of GER. When patients were evaluated with respect to the presence or absence of CNS impairment there was a marked difference in the success rate of this procedure. Eight of 48 patients with CNS disorders had recurrent reflux with gastrostomy feedings after a modified Thal fundoplication (16%) while only two of 68 neurologically normal children had a failure of operation (3%; P less than .05). These data indicate that the modified Thal fundoplication is very effective in correcting GER in neurologically normal children but is less effective in children with CNS impairment.