Long-term follow-up after Kaunitz repair of hiatal hernia
Noterdaeme, P.M.; Vermassen, F.; Van Belleghem, Y.; Derom, F.
Acta Chirurgica Belgica 88(5): 303-307
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5458 PMID: 3223177 Document Number: 310557
Kaunitz-procedure for gastro-oesophageal reflux. Between May '74 and May '86 we performed 121 Kaunitz-procedures for gastro-oesophageal reflux, mostly with oesofagitis. Follow-up was obtained in 120 of these 121 patients. The mean follow-up is 55 months and the mean age 49.5 years at the time of operation. Of these patients 103 were completely free of reflux-symptoms after the operation while 6 patients had apparent amelioration of their symptoms. In 7 patients we obtained no subjective improvement but in 4 of them the oesofagitis, which they had preoperatively, has disappeared. 4 patients were reoperated because of anatomical recurrence. The results can be considered as good or excellent in 94% of the patients. The Kaunitz procedure is a simple and efficient operative technique in patients with hiatus hernia and reflux.