PRELIMINARY-RESULTS WITH LAPAROSCOPIC NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION

17 patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease not responding to medical treatment. Conversion to laparotomy was necessaryly due to large paraesophageal hiatus hernia (3) or severe periesophagitis (1) in 4 patients. There was no perioperative morbidity or mortality. At 3 months all patients were symptom-free. Esophageal manometry revealed a rise in mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure from 4 mm Hg preoperatively to 11 mm Hg postoperatively, and lengthening of the high pressure zone from 2.3 to 3.3 cm. One patient needed reoperation one year after fundoplication due to wrap disrupture with recurrent reflux disease. Laparoscopic fundoplication involves low perioperative morbidity and shortens the postoperative recovery time in selected patients.