Conservative surgery for peptic oesophageal strictures

Abstract

Abstract Vagal denervation of the stomach and, in most cases, intermittent dilatation for a limited time after the operation have been employed in the treatment of 14 patients with fibrous stricture and shortening of the oesophagus due to chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux. In 2 patients the stricture was widened by means of a gastric patch at the same operation. The results have been quite encouraging, all patients being able to swallow solid food, most of them normally, and the improvement appears to be permanent. The change in the quality of the refluxed fluid brought about by gastric denervation seems to play a leading role in improving local oesophageal conditions and rendering the stricture amenable to dilatation by bougies or by ingested solid food.