BACKGROUND: Skepticism is still present today about the laparoscopic treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) in children. We present the prospective experience and short-term results of eight Italian pediatric surgical units. METHODS: We included all the children with complicated GER, operated after January 1998 by single surgeons from eight different centers. Diagnostic aspects, type of fundoplication, and complications were considered. All the patients were followed for a minimum period of 6 months in order to detect complications or recurrences. RESULTS: 288 children were prospectively included. Mean age was 4.8 years (3 m-14 y). Nissen fundoplication was done in 25%, floppy Nissen in 63%, Toupet in 1.7%, and anterior procedures (Lortat Jacob, Thal) in 10%. Gastrostomy was associated, if neurological impairment or feeding disorders were present. Mean follow-up was 15 months and reoperation was necessary in 3.8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This experience underlines that minimal invasive access surgery in children is safe and that the laparoscopic approach is considered in eight centers the golden standard for surgical repair of gastro-esophageal reflux disease maintaining the same indications and techniques of the open approach.
BACKGROUND: Skepticism is still present today about the laparoscopic treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) in children. We present the prospective experience and short-term results of eight Italian pediatric surgical units. METHODS: We included all the children with complicated GER, operated after January 1998 by single surgeons from eight different centers. Diagnostic aspects, type of fundoplication, and complications were considered. All the patients were followed for a minimum period of 6 months in order to detect complications or recurrences. RESULTS: 288 children were prospectively included. Mean age was 4.8 years (3 m-14 y). Nissen fundoplication was done in 25%, floppy Nissen in 63%, Toupet in 1.7%, and anterior procedures (Lortat Jacob, Thal) in 10%. Gastrostomy was associated, if neurological impairment or feeding disorders were present. Mean follow-up was 15 months and reoperation was necessary in 3.8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This experience underlines that minimal invasive access surgery in children is safe and that the laparoscopic approach is considered in eight centers the golden standard for surgical repair of gastro-esophageal reflux disease maintaining the same indications and techniques of the open approach.
Authors: C Esposito; Ph Montupet; D van Der Zee; A Settimi; A Paye-Jaouen; A Centonze; N K M Bax Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2006-05-12 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Jan Mathei; Willy Coosemans; Philippe Nafteux; George Decker; Paul De Leyn; Dirk Van Raemdonck; Ilse Hoffman; Christiane Deboeck; Marijke Proesmans; Toni Lerut Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2007-10-18 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Femke A Mauritz; Maud Y A van Herwaarden-Lindeboom; Wouter Stomp; Sander Zwaveling; Katelijn Fischer; Roderick H J Houwen; Peter D Siersema; David C van der Zee Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2011-07-29 Impact factor: 3.452