THE ANGELCHIK PROSTHESIS IN THE SURGICAL THERAPY OF REFLUX ESOPHAGITIS - SHORT AND LONG-TERM RESULTS

The authors report the results acquired from 1981 to 1985 using the An gelchik prosthesis in 22 patients with reflux oesophagitis resisting m edical therapy for more than 6 months. Clinical evaluation has been do ne using Visick scale, as modified by Deakin. Clinical and instrumenta l controls have been done at 1 month, 12 months and 5-10 years after t he operation. Intraoperative mortality and morbidity were zero. Compli cations directly related to the operation were : transitory dysphagia in 4 cases, persistent dysphagia in 3 cases, transitory gas bloat synd rome in 1 case and persistent gas bloat syndrome in another, persisten t stenosis in 1 case and prosthesis dislocation in 6 cases. Clinical r esults were satisfactory (success rate : 90,9%) only in patients with a short term follow-up (30 days). The full rate of success has come do wn to 84,2% and 66,6% in patients having follow-ups respectively of 1 year and 5-10 years. The results are truly disappointing and the autho rs conclude that this procedure is not to be employed.