REMISSION OF ANGINA-PECTORIS AND DYSPNEA BY FUNDOPLICATION IN GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

This study investigates 113 consecutive patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease before and after fundoplication and crural repair with respect to symptomatic improvement of chest pain, angina pectoris, exercise-linked chest pain, meal-linked chest pain, dyspnea, and air hunger, and any correlation between these items and smoking habits. The patients were followed by identical questionnaires completed at the time of oesophageal manometric examination prior to operation and from 6 months up to more than 5 years after operation. There was a highly significant reduction in all kinds of chest pain including angina pectoris, and of dyspnea at follow-up independent of smoking habits. However, air hunger was not significantly reduced. The present results suggest that gastro-oesophageal reflux disease should be taken into consideration in the symptomatic diagnosis of angina pectoris.