Redo Fundoplication



Redo Fundoplication


C. Daniel Smith







PATIENT HISTORY AND PHYSICAL FINDINGS



  • Common symptoms of failure of fundoplication are outlined in Table 3.


  • Recurrent GERD is the most common (59%) and dysphagia (31%) the next most common. Although these symptoms can occur with any or all of the patterns of failure, there are patterns of symptoms that correlate highly with a given mechanism of failure (FIG 3).








    Table 1: Fundoplication Procedures













    360-degree fundoplication (Nissen fundoplication)


    180-degree posterior fundoplication (Toupet fundoplication)


    180-degree anterior fundoplication (Dor fundoplication)


    Posterior gastropexy (Hill procedure)


    Transthoracic posterior plication (Belsey procedure)









    Table 2: Patterns of Fundoplication Failure













    Wrap disruption or loosening


    Wrap migration or slip


    Hiatal herniation or reherniation


    Wrap or crural stenosis


    Wrap too loose or misplaced at the initial operation



  • Gross anatomic abnormalities such as hiatal hernia or severe wrap/crural stenosis are more likely to present with symptoms related to poor esophageal transit and emptying. These symptoms commonly include dysphagia, chest pain, and regurgitation.


  • The wrap that has loosened or come undone more commonly presents with recurrent GERD symptoms, often identical to those being experienced before the first antireflux procedure. Commonly, this includes typical symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain but can also be more atypical symptoms such as cough, laryngitis, or asthma. Again, the relationship and similarity of symptoms to those before the initial operation is strongly predictive of wrap disruption or loosening.


  • A slipped wrap will often have a broad constellation of symptoms with more prevalence of nausea and epigastric pain than the other presentations.


  • A favorable response to antisecretories and postural regurgitation predicts wrap loosening or incompetence, whereas poor tolerance of heavy dense foods or weight loss predicts hiatal herniation or esophageal outlet issues. Improvement
    with dilation supports esophageal outlet restriction. Failure of symptoms to respond to any intervention is more likely with wrap slippage.






    FIG 1 • Common anatomic patterns of antireflux surgery failure: (A) fundoplication disruption, (B) tight fundoplication or crural stenosis, (C) slipped fundoplication, and (D) hiatal herniation.






    FIG 2 • Illustration of incorrectly created fundoplication compared to correct creation.


  • A confusing presentation is the patient with early postprandial bloating or meal-induced diarrhea. With this symptom constellation, one should be suspicious of vagal nerve injury or inflammation (dysfunctional gastric emptying). This symptom complex in the absence of an obvious anatomic abnormality or a positive pH test should lead one to pursue further workup rather than a redo antireflux operation.






FIG 3A-D. Symptoms of antireflux surgery failure correlated with anatomic pattern of failure. SOB, shortness of breath.








Table 3: Common Symptoms of Fundoplication Failure



















Heartburn


Chest pain


Regurgitation


Dysphagia


Nausea


Bloating


Shortness of breath (SOB)


Aspiration



IMAGING AND OTHER DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES



  • Testing for suspected fundoplication failure falls into testing to secure a diagnosis or reason for failure and testing for operative planning. An algorithm for the workup of patients suspected to have failed a prior fundoplication is shown in FIG 4.


Establishing the Diagnosis



  • In pursuit of a diagnosis of failure, the workup should start with an anatomic assessment. This usually includes an upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD]) and contrast esophagram.


  • Often, a contrast esophagram is all that is needed to identify the pattern of failure. FIG 5 depicts the esophagram findings corresponding to the various patterns of failure.


  • Alternatively, an EGD may clearly show an anatomic abnormality. The common endoscopic findings of failure are outlined in Table 4.


  • In many cases, if the presenting symptoms correlate with findings on an esophagram or EGD, this is all that is needed to diagnose failure and the need for reoperation.


  • If recurrent GERD is the dominant presentation, then pH testing should be obtained.







FIG 4 • Flowchart of workup for possible antireflux surgery failure. PEH, paraesophageal hernia; EMS, esophageal motility study; GES, gastric emptying study.






FIG 5A-D. Contrast swallow examples for each common anatomic pattern of failure.








Table 4: Endoscopic Findings of Failed Fundoplication












Viewing Location


Findings (Pattern of Failure)


Retroflex view of distal esophagus


Gastric folds extending into wrap (slipped/misplaced fundoplication) Esophagogastric junction does not hug scope (loose or undone fundoplication) Gastric mucosa extending above hiatal indentation (hiatal hernia)


Forward view of distal esophagus


Narrowing that does not accept scope (tight wrap or crural stenosis) Esophagitis/esophageal ulcers (loose or undone fundoplication) Constriction on proximal stomach below constriction of wrap (hiatal hernia) Constriction of wrap distal to esophagogastric junction (slipped or misplaced wrap)




Planning for Operative Management



  • With a diagnosis of fundoplication failure secured, further testing may be indicated to help plan the most effective reoperative strategy.


  • The most common conditions associated with failure that need to be investigated are esophageal motility problems and impairment in gastric emptying. All patients should undergo an esophageal motility study and a gastric emptying study before redo surgery.


  • Impairment in esophageal motility may indicate the need for a partial 270-degree fundoplication rather than a 360-degree fundoplication. Classically, a partial fundoplication should be considered if normal esophageal peristalsis is present in less than 70% of swallows or esophageal body pressure is less than 30 mmHg.


  • Delayed gastric emptying may require the addition of a gastrostomy tube to provide gastric decompression in the early postoperative period, thereby preventing gastric distension-induced crural or wrap disruption.


SURGICAL MANAGEMENT



  • Redo fundoplication can be both rewarding and challenging. Although the right diagnosis and proper preparation are important, they are no substitute for experience with all manner of foregut surgery. Redo fundoplication should not be undertaken by a general surgeon who occasionally performs elective fundoplication.

Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL SURGERY | Comments Off on Redo Fundoplication

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