title: The Hill antireflux repair at 5 institutions over 25 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-term (> 5 years) studies of antireflux operations are needed. This study evaluates long-term results of the open Hill repair at multiple institutions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of open Hill repairs from 1972 to 1997 at 5 North American medical centers with a mean follow-up of 10 years. Objective data and standardized clinical outcomes were collected at a central site. Subjective results, medication use, and satisfaction scales were obtained through scripted phone interview. Results between 2 Hill-trained centers and 3 independent centers were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand one hundred eighty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. Symptomatic improvement was found in 97% and good to excellent results in 93%. Medication use was markedly reduced. Hiatal hernia recurrence was found in 77 (6.9%); the reoperation rate was 1.9%. Differences in outcomes between Hill centers and independent centers were minor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excellent results with the open Hill repair are durable beyond 10 years and are reproducible. Anatomic recurrence and reoperative rates are low.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, Swedish Medical Center and Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA 98014, USA. Ralph.Aye@Swedish.org
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Aye
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rehse
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blitz
authors.forename: Stefan J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Lucius D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome