Outcomes of pediatric laparoscopic fundoplication: A critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE:

Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common procedures performed in children. A critical literature review was performed to evaluate the level and quality of evidence supporting the efficacy of this procedure.

METHODS:

Systematic reviews of the EMBASE, PubMed and CENTRAL databases were conducted to retrieve all articles published over a 15-year period (1996 to 2010) reporting medium- to long-term outcomes (minimum six months follow-up) of laparoscopic fundoplication for the treatment of pediatric GERD. Articles were critically appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale and the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Extracted outcomes included GERD recurrence, need for reoperation, postoperative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS:

A total of 5302 articles were retrieved. Thirty-six studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria, including five prospective (level 2b), four retrospective comparative (level 3b) and 27 case series (level 4). No studies compared laparoscopic fundoplication with medical treatment. Thirty-six per cent of studies did not describe the symptoms used to suspect GERD; 11% did not disclose the diagnostic modalities used; and 41% did not report the findings of diagnostic modalities. Only 17% of studies provided a definition of recurrence, and only 14% attempted to control for confounding variables. The follow-up intervals were inconsistently reported, ranging between two months and nine years. Significant heterogeneity among studies limited the ability to pool outcomes. Mean (± SD) recurrence rates varied between 0% and 48±19.6% of patients. Reoperation was required in 0.69±0.95% to 17.7±8.4% of patients. Mortality ranged between 0% and 24±16.7%.

CONCLUSION:

The level and quality of the evidence supporting laparoscopic fundoplication are extremely poor. Higher-quality data are required before the procedure can be considered to be an effective intervention in the treatment of pediatric GERD.     

Permanent mesh results in long-term symptom improvement and patient satisfaction without increasing adverse outcomes in hiatal hernia repair

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate symptom relief, patient satisfaction, and safety of permanent mesh following Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair.

Methods

Patients who underwent Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair with permanent mesh (Crurasoft; Davol, Inc, Bard, Warwick, RI) between 2005 and 2011 were identified. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Long-term follow-up data were obtained via telephone interviews using a modified 5-point Likert scale.

Results

Forty-one patients were identified. Twenty-six patients (63%) had complete follow-up data. Mean follow-up period was 65 months (14 to 96 months). Symptomatic improvement occurred in 23 patients (88%). Twenty-three patients (88%) reported overall satisfaction with the procedure as either excellent or good, and 23 of 26 patients (89%) would undergo surgery again. Three patients (12%) reported hernia recurrence. There were no mesh erosions.

Conclusion

The use of permanent (Crurasoft; Davol, Inc) mesh resulted in symptom improvement as well as patient satisfaction, and no mesh erosions were seen.     

腹腔镜下应用球囊胃管治疗胃食管反流病的疗效研究

目的:探讨应用腹腔镜并以球囊胃管限制胃底折叠程度治疗胃食管反流病(gastroesophageal reflux disease,GERD)的疗效。方法:分析2011年2月至2013年4月应用腹腔镜治疗的21例GERD患者的临床资料。术中均应用球囊胃管并行Nissen式胃底折叠术,其中9例伴食管裂孔疝患者在完成疝修补后行此术式。结果:21例患者均成功完成腹腔镜手术,术中出血量15~30 ml,平均(18.0±3.5)ml;手术时间35~193 min,平均(108±19)min;术后住院3~9 d,平均(4.8±1.5)d。术后未发生严重并发症,术后随访8~18个月,平均(12.0±4.5)个月。1例患者于术后3个月复发;术后6个月,余20例患者再次行24 h食管pH值测定及胃镜复查,其中pH值监测DeMeester评分较术前明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);复查胃镜患者中,2例术前胃镜分级为Ⅰ级的患者未发生明显变化,3例从Ⅲ级恢复至Ⅰ级,余15例患者表现正常。结论:应用腹腔镜并以球囊胃管限制胃底折叠程度治疗GERD疗效确切,具有创伤小、康复快、安全等优点。     

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Wrap Crural Fixation in Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication for Children

Introduction:

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is common in neurologically impaired (NI) children. Fundoplication and gastrostomy have previously been indicated in NI children with GERD who have not responded to medical treatment. The most common reason for fundoplication failure is intrathoracic migration of the wrap.

Objective:

The aim of the study is to measure the effect of wrap fixation on the final outcome of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in NI children.

Patients and Methods:

A retrospective file review was conducted for all NI children who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in 2 tertiary pediatric surgery centers in the United Arab Emirates from February 15, 2006 to February 15, 2013. Redo fundoplication patients were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 in which the fundoplication wrap was fixed to the right crus only, and group 2 in which the wrap was fixed to the right and left crus simultaneously.

Results:

The study population included 68 patients; there were 47 male and 21 female children. Mean age at time of surgery was 8.2 years. Recurrent GERD at 1 year postoperatively was 26% versus 7% in group 1 and group 2, respectively, by upper contrast study. Redo surgery was required in 21% versus 3% in group 1 and group 2, respectively.

Conclusions:

Bilateral fixation of the wrap to diaphragmatic crura significantly reduced recurrent GERD, in laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for neurologically impaired children, with no increased risk of morbidities. Future prospective studies should be conducted with larger patient populations and longer follow-up periods.     

腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补联合胃底折叠术在西藏基层医院的临床应用

目的探讨在西藏基层医院开展腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补联合胃底折叠术的疗效及可行性。 方法回顾分析2017年7月至2019年6月于林芝市人民医院普外科41例行腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补联合胃底折叠术患者的临床资料。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术中并发症、术后住院时间以及术后并发症等情况。计量资料使用均数±标准差表示;计数资料以例数或百分比表示. 结果所有患者均顺利完成腹腔镜手术,平均手术时间为（108.0±33.3）min,平均出血量为（22.7±18.5）ml,术后平均住院时间为（3.5±2.1）d。平均随访14个月,未见复发病例。 结论在西藏基层医院开展腹腔镜食管裂孔疝修补联合胃底折叠术安全有效,适宜推广应用。     

Fundoplication with anastomotic wrap

Gastric fundoplication is an accepted treatment for disabling or life-threatening gastro-oesophageal reflux in childhood, and a modified Nissen's procedure is most commonly used. Wrap failure is a common complication and occurs most frequently and earliest in neurologically impaired children. To obviate this complication, the procedure was modified by anastomosis of the two limbs of the fundal wrap. The maintenance of the wrap then relies on healing and physical union of the stomach wall, rather than on sutures that eventually cut out, leading to recurrence of reflux. The procedure has been performed in four neurologically impaired children, in three after failure of a previous Nissen procedure. There has been one complication, an adhesive bowel obstruction, and follow-up is too short to assess the ultimate results.     

Laparoscopic vs conventional Nissen fundoplication

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has gained wide acceptance among surgeons, but the results of the laparoscopic procedure have not been compared to the results of an open fundoplication in a randomized study. Methods: Some 110 consecutive patients with prolonged symptoms of grade II–IV esophagitis were randomized, 55 to laparoscopic (LAP) and 55 to an open (OPEN) Nissen fundoplication. Postoperative recovery, complications, and outcome at 3- and 12-month follow-up were compared in the two groups. Results: Five LAP operations were converted to open laparotomy due to esophageal perforation (two), technical difficulties (two), and bleeding (one). In the OPEN group (two) patients underwent splenectomy. There was no mortality. The mean hospital stay was 3.2 days in the LAP group and 6.4 in the OPEN group. Dysphagia and gas bloating were the most common complaints 3 months after the operation in both groups. These symptoms had disappeared at the 12-month follow-up examination. All patients in the LAP group and 86% in the OPEN group were satisfied with the result. Conclusions: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a safe and feasible procedure. Complications are few and functional results are good if not better than those of conventional open surgery. Received: 15 May 1996/Accepted: 10 September 1996     

Laparoscopic Nissen Rossetti fundoplication in situs inversus totalis—A blessing in disguise

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and Nissen Rossetti fundoplication represent two different surgical approaches for treating hiatus hernia. We report a Laparoscopic Nissen Rossetti fundoplication (LNRF) for gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a patient with situs inversus totalis (SIT).

PRESENTATION OF CASE

: A 38-year-old man with SIT was diagnosed with sliding hiatus hernia. We performed Laparoscopic Nissen Rossetti procedure for this patient. The patient was discharged on first postoperative day after he tolerated oral liquids.

DISCUSSION

SIT is a rare anomaly presenting in 1–2 per 10,000 individuals. As this rare anomaly (SIT) led preoperative anticipation of respiratory and blood loss complications the above procedure was chosen. Less operating time, less calculated blood loss and improvement of symptoms with no associated gas bloating syndrome was noted especially with SIT.

CONCLUSION

We recommend relook into the Laparoscopic Nissen Rossetti fundoplication as an effective procedure in GERD especially with rare anomalies like SIT.     

Short-term safety and symptomatic outcomes of transoral incisionless fundoplication with or without hiatal hernia repair in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background

A retrospective community-based study evaluated the safety and symptomatic outcomes of the transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure with or without hiatal hernia repair (HHR) in patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Materials and methods

Forty-eight patients underwent TIF using EsophyX (EndoGastric Solutions, Redmond, WA) in 3 community hospitals. Patients who presented with a hiatal hernia 3 cm or more in the greatest transverse diameter underwent laparoscopic HHR before TIF.

Results

Forty-two patients completed follow-up assessment at a median of 6 (range 1–11) months. Laparoscopic HHR was performed in 18 (43%) patients before TIF. There were no long-term postoperative complications. GERD-health related quality of life scores indicated heartburn elimination in 63% of patients. The need for daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy was eliminated in 76% of patients. Atypical symptom relief measured by the median reflux symptom index score reduction was significant (5 [0–47] vs 22 [2–42] on PPIs, P < .001).

Conclusions

Our results support the safety and symptomatic improvement of TIF with or without laparoscopic HHR. The patients' symptoms were significantly improved, and PPI use was significantly reduced.