Upside-down-stomach - laparoscopic repair

An upside-down-stomach, usually occurring in eldery patients describes an e xtreme case of paraesophageal hernia. Due to the possibility of life threat ening complications there is an urgent need for surgical intervention. In 1 998 three patients suffering from complete upside-down-stomach were treated by laparoscopic surgery at our hospital. Two of them received a hiatoplast ic with fundo- and corpophrenicopexy. In one case we did a 360 degrees-flop py Nissen's-fundoplication. Perioperatively, one patient developed a left s ided pneumothorax Long-term follow-up 6 months postoperatively in our out-p atient department revealed unconspicuous clinical and gastroscopical findin gs and high patient satisfaction with postoperative outcome. Our case repor ts show the possibility of adequate operating on upside-down-stomach by mea ns of laparoscopic surgery Minimal invasive methods provide a good overlock an the operating field and are poor in complications when done by an exper ienced surgeon, so that patients may profit from comfort of laparoscopic su rgery.