title: Long-term effect of Nissen fundoplication in young puppies.
abstract: Nissen fundoplication effectively prevents gastroesophageal reflux in children. However, the long-term effect of this operation on the distal esophagus of infants and children is unknown, and a fear has been expressed that wrap-around operations on a small infant esophagus would constrict growth of the lower esophagus and cause late partial obstruction. In this study, the long-term effect of Nissen fundoplication was evaluated. There were 20, 1-2-wk-old puppies operated upon; 10 underwent Nissen fundoplication and 10 had only a sham operation to serve as a control group. Three puppies in each group had esophageal manometry and barium studies of the esophagus preoperatively and at various times postoperatively. The diameter of the esophagus was measured in all dogs during the operation. All fundoplications were done with a #20F dilator inside the esophagus. Two dogs in each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 3 yr of age, and the remainder were sacrificed at 4 yr of age. At autopsy, there was no difference in the diameter of the esophagus in the dogs with Nissen fundoplication compared with the sham-operated dogs. Barium studies in the fundoplicated group showed no dilation of the esophagus compared to the sham-operated group. Both groups grew normally and there were no differences in weight at the time of sacrifice. It seems that Nissen fundoplication does not affect growth of the distal esophagus in young puppies, and that body weight and linear growth are not altered by this operation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000254:growth & development; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000601:surgery*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications