Fundoplication wrap disruption: an experimental study in rats

Abstract

Antireflux surgery usually gives long lasting control of gastroesophageal reflux disease, but late failures can occur from fundoplication wrap disruption. Disruption presumably occurs when physiological mechanical stresses cause the sutures to pull out of the fundoplication wrap. We hypothesized that complete fundoplications (fundus sutured to fundus) would withstand disruptive forces better than partial fundoplications (fundus sutured to esophagus). Forty-eight rats underwent fundoplication (24 partial and 24 complete). Fundoplication wraps were disrupted by distending the stomach (bursting pressure technique) and by distracting the wrap in a tensiometer (breaking strength technique). Bursting pressures were similar in the partial (103.7 +/- 13.5 mmHg) and complete (100.5 +/- 13.1 mmHg) fundoplication wraps (P = 0.93, not significant). In both groups, all disruptions occurred by sutures tearing through the stomach wall. Breaking strength was also equivalent for the two types of wrap. Partial wraps disrupted at 6.69 +/- 1.49 N and complete wraps disrupted at 6.52 +/- 1.28 N (P = 0.77, not significant). Sutures tore out of the stomach side of the partial wrap in five rats and out of the esophagus in the other seven rats with partial wraps. Disruption occurred by sutures tearing through the stomach in all rats with complete fundoplications. This experimental study in the rat did not show any difference in the ability of partial and complete fundoplication wraps to withstand disruptive forces.