Asymmetrical elevation of esophagogastric junction pressure suggests hiatal repair contributes to antireflux surgery dysphagia

Abstract

The radial distribution of esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) pressures with regard to troublesome dysphagia (TDysph) after antireflux surgery is poorly understood. Before and after antireflux surgery, end-expiratory and peak-inspiratory EGJ pressures were measured at eight angles of 45° radial separation in patients with reflux disease. All 34 patients underwent posterior crural repair, then either 90° anterior (N = 13) or 360° fundoplication (N = 21). Dysphagia was assessed prospectively using a validated questionnaire (score range 0-45) and TDysph defined as a dysphagia score that was ≥5 above pre-op baseline. Compared with before surgery, for 90° fundoplication, end-expiratory EGJ pressures were highest in the left-anterolateral sectors, the position of the partial fundoplication. In other sectors, pressures were uniformly elevated. Compared with 90° fundoplication, radial pressures after 360° fundoplication were higher circumferentially (P = 0.004), with a posterior peak. Nine patients developed TDysph after surgery with a greater increase in end-expiratory and peak-inspiratory EGJ pressures (P = 0.03 and 0.03, respectively) and significantly higher inspiratory pressure at the point of maximal radial pressure asymmetry (P = 0.048), compared with 25 patients without TDysph. Circumferential elevation of end-expiratory EGJ pressure after 90° and 360° fundoplication suggests hiatal repair elevates EGJ pressure by extrinsic compression. The highly localized focal point of elevated EGJ pressure upon inspiration in patients with TDysph after surgery is indicative of a restrictive diaphragmatic hiatus in the presence of a fundoplication.