Distal Esophageal Obstruction Caused by a Long-Forgotten Angelchik Prosthesis

ABSTRACT

Postoperative dysphagia is a recognized complication of antireflux surgery. In 1978, the Angelchik antireflux prosthesis was introduced as an alternative to fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease but was largely abandoned due to high rates of device-related complications, particularly dysphagia. We present a case of progressive dysphagia initially attributed to achalasia that was ultimately found to be secondary to a retained Angelchik prosthesis placed more than 30 years earlier.