The search for an operation that effectively prevents and treats intrathoracic gastric migration (ITGM) after bariatric surgery has revived a long-forgotten technique: ligamentum teres cardiopexy (LTC) by which a vascularized flap of the teres ligament is wrapped around the distal esophagus. The systematic search of publications in the English language revealed 4 studies (total number of patients 53) in the non-bariatric literature with an unsatisfactory resolution of GERD. There were 5 reports from the bariatric literature with small patient numbers (total 64) and a short follow-up (6-36 months). There were no objective signs of gastric remigration in 93% of investigated patients. Acknowledging the limitations of these preliminary reports, bariatric surgeons are encouraged to further investigate the potentials of LTC in their patients.
Keywords: Bariatric surgery; GERD; Hiatal hernia; Intrathoracic gastric migration; Ligamentum teres hepatis; Round ligament; Sleeve gastrectomy.