BACKGROUND: Based on published data and personal statistics about "Floppy Nissen Rossetti Fundoplication" without division of short gastric vessels(NRF) for the sugical treatment of GERD patients, focusing those with Barrett' s esophagus(BE), we compared surgical results of this procedure to a "Floppy Long Nissen Fundoplication" with division of short gastric vessels(NLF), addressing pH measurement and clinical features. METHODS: From march 2000 to march 2003, 28 patients with GERD and BE, were assessed postoperatively, 12 for NRF and 16 for NLF. Assessment was performed considering the relief or persistence of symptoms, appearance of post operative dysphagia and persistence of acid reflux after surgery, detected by pH measurement. RESULTS: Both surgeries relief heart-burn symptoms, pirosis and regurgitation (overflow) on the second postoperative day. Transitory dysphagia occurred more frequently after NRF surgery than with NLF (41% versus 6.25%). Permanent dysphagia has not been observed on either groups. Postoperative pH measurements six months after surgeries have shown that NRF group patients were not totally free of reflux, 25% of pH measurements presented positive results, while NLF group patients were almost totally protected, 6.25% with positive results. Although this is a preliminary study based on small sample size, authors advice about the risks that a constant reflux after surgery may pose to a patient with Barrett's esophagus and present a new proposal (floppy and long wrap), contrary to current trends (short and floppy wrap) for the treatment of GERD patients with BE, that deserves a special consideration by surgeons and researchers.
Fundoplication; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Barrett Esophagus
