Rin Yamagata

Valvuloplasty plus fundoplasty to prevent esophageal regurgitation in esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy

To prevent regurgitation esophagitis in esophagogastrostomy after proximal gastrectomy, valvuloplasty plus fundoplasty was carried out in 17 patients with stomach cancer or cancer of the abdominal esophagus. For this purpose, an equilateral triangular flap of 2.5 cm per side was formed at the upper margin of the remaining stomach along the greater curvature. The flap was inverted into the stomach only to serve as a valve. After the esophagogastrostomy was properly performed, fundoplasty was carried out, lifting and suturing the uppermost edge of the stomach to the esophagus along the greater curvature. To prevent pylorospasm as a result of reduced gastric volume, pyloromyotomy was also performed. The results were excellent in those followed for more than 1 year. The technique is simple and effective and, we believe, deserves further clinical evaluation.