Late results in patients with Schatzki rings undergoing destruction of the ring and hiatus herniorrhaphy.

Thirty-six patients with symptomatic Schatzki rings were treated by rupture of the ring and repair and followed up an average of 6 years. Thirteen (37 percent) had no recurrence of symptoms; 8 (23 percent) had recurrence of mild symtpoms; 14 (40 percent) had recurrence of symptoms as severe as those experienced preoperatively. Failure was associated with recurrence of the ring and hernia in some. In others, stricture with or without recurrence of the hernia was noted. Analysis of the procedures did not suggest a means of improving results.