Hiatus Hernia, a follow-up of 53 operations

Fifty-three patients having a hiatal hernia repair between 1951 and 1956 are reviewed. Three patients died within 1 year of surgery and were excluded from the assessment of symptoms. Of 41 having an abdominal repair 80 per cent were classed as Visick 1 or 2. The results for anterior repair of the oesophageal hiatus were better than an anterior and posterior repair; posterior repair was the least effective. Six patients required resection for stenosis, and 10 per cent of the group died of a subsequent carcinoma of the cardia.