Manometric Comprobation of Esophagogastric Junction Competence After Nissen Fundoplication and Its Relation to the Length of Fundic Wrap

We present 98 patients operated on by two techniques of 360-degree fundoplication due to gastroesopagheal reflux disease and divided in two groups: Group I comprised those who were given a conventional valve 5 cm in length, and group II underwent a short fundoplication that did not surpass 1.5 cm. All were subjected to preoperative esophageal manometry, with determination of the pressure and length of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the motor behavior of the esophageal body. The postoperative manometric results are analyzed, checking that after fundoplication there was a significant increase in tone and length of the LES (p < 0.00005); there were no differences between the two groups (p = 0.9920 and p = 0.2160, respectively). The motor function of the esophageal body did not change after surgery. We conclude that even the smallest length of the fundic wrap does not cause a reduction in the pressure and length of the manometric LES; that is, the antireflux effectiveness, measured by manometry, did not depend on the anterior length of the valvuloplasty.