Laparoscopic wedge fundectomy for collis gastroplasty creation in patients with a foreshortened esophagus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of a laparoscopic wedge-fundectomy Collis gastroplasty for a short esophagus during fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: The Collis gastroplasty provides a surgical solution for a foreshortened esophagus but has been associated with postoperative dysphagia and esophagitis.

METHODS: We identified 150 patients who underwent a Collis gastroplasty from 1998 to 2012, and of these, 85 patients underwent laparoscopic procedures using the wedge-fundectomy technique.

RESULTS: The median age of the 85 patients (42 men/43 women) was 66 years (range, 37-84 years). A Nissen fundoplication was added to the Collis gastroplasty in 56 patients (66%) and a Toupet fundoplication in 29 patients. No patient had a staple line leak or abscess, and the median hospital stay was 3.5 days (interquartile range, 3-4.5 days). At a median follow-up of 12 months, 93% of patients were free of heartburn. Dysphagia was significantly less common after surgery (preoperative: 58% vs postoperative: 16%; P < 0.0001). New-onset dysphagia developed in only 2 patients. An upper endoscopy was performed in 54 patients at a median of 6 months after surgery, and erosions above the fundoplication were seen in 6 patients (11%). A small (1-2 cm) recurrent hernia was seen in 2 patients (2.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic wedge-fundectomy Collis gastroplasty can be performed safely and is associated with a low prevalence of new-onset dysphagia and esophagitis. The addition of a Collis gastroplasty to an antireflux operation is an effective strategy in patients with short esophagus, and its more liberal use is encouraged.