Background: Postoperative dysphagia after anti-reflux surgery typically resolves in a few weeks. However, even after the initial swelling has resolved at 6 weeks, dysphagia can persist in 30% of patients necessitating esophageal dilation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of esophageal dilation on postoperative dysphagia, the recurrence of reflux symptoms, and the efficacy of pneumatic dilations on post-operative dysphagia.Methods: A prospectively collected database was reviewed for patients who underwent partial/complete fundoplication with/without paraesophageal hernia repair between 2006-2014.Patient age, sex, BMI, DeMeester score, procedure type, procedure duration, length of stay, postoperative dysphagia, time to first pneumatic dilation, number of dilations, and the need for reoperations were collected.
Results:The study included 902 consecutive patients, 71.3% females, with a mean age of 57.8±14.7 years. Postoperative dysphagia was noted in 26.3% of patients, of whom 89% had complete fundoplication (p<0.01). Endoscopic dilation was performed in 93 patients (10.3%) with 59 (63.4%) demonstrating persistent dysphagia. Recurrent reflux symptoms occurred in 35 (38%) patients who underwent endoscopic dilation.Patients who underwent a dilation had a smaller revision rate than patients who did not undergo a dilation before revision (17.2% vs 41.7%, respectively, p<0.001) in the four-year follow-up period. The duration of initial dilation from surgery was inversely related to the need for revisional surgery (p=0.047), while more than one dilation was not associated with additive benefit.
Conclusion:One attempt at endoscopic dilation of the esophagogastric fundoplication may provide relief in patients with postoperative dysphagia and can be used as a predictive factor for the need of revision. However, there is an increased risk for recurrent reflux symptoms and revisional surgery may ultimately be indicated for control of symptoms.