The Spectrum of Surgical Remediation of Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication-Related Failures

Aim: To evaluate outcomes of surgical remediation for symptomatic or anatomic failure after a transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF). Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 11 patients who underwent a remedial operation following TIF failure between June 2011 and September 2016 at the Mayo Clinic in Florida for persistent foregut symptoms. Upper gastrointestinal workup characterized 1 patient as having normal post-TIF anatomy and 10 as having anatomic failure. Ambulatory pH testing was performed in 7 patients and was abnormal in all. All patients underwent a laparoscopic takedown of the prior endoscopic fundoplication and removal of all accessible polypropylene T-fasteners. Results: All patients had esophageal salvage and have not required a reoperation. Anatomical findings included hiatal hernia (7), esophageal diverticulum (2), hiatal mesh erosion of esophagus (1), long-segment esophageal stricture (1), and normal anatomy (1). Remedial operations included laparoscopic explant of fasteners in all patients with conversion to fundoplication (7), resection/imbrication of esophageal diverticulum (2), Heller myotomy (1), and mesh explant and complex esophageal repair (1). Mean operative time was 177 minutes and median length of stay 3 days (range 2-13 days). At mean follow-up of 10.7 months (range 1-42 months), 7 patients had persistent complaints. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was repeated in these 7 patients and was normal (n=3), mild stenosis requiring dilation (n=2), Los Angeles grade B esophagitis (n=1), and Barrett's esophagus (n=1). Conclusion: Anatomic distortion of the distal esophagus after TIF can be significant, making subsequent operations complex. After remedial surgery, few patients will continue to have troublesome symptoms such as dysphagia.