Postoperative Small Bowel Obstruction Following Laparoscopic or Open Fundoplication in Children: A Retrospective Analysis Using a Nationwide Database

Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Pediatric Intussusception: Analysis Using a National Inpatient Database in Japan

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic surgery for pediatric intussusception has recently become more common as an alternative to open surgery. However, the differences in outcomes between laparoscopic and open surgery remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to compare short-term surgical outcomes and recurrence rates between patients treated with laparoscopic and open surgery for pediatric intussusception.

METHODS

Patients aged <18 years who underwent laparoscopic (n = 192) and open (n = 416) surgery for intussusception between April 2016 and March 2021 were retrospectively identified using a Japanese nationwide inpatient database. Propensity-score overlap weighting analyses were conducted to compare the outcomes between the laparoscopic and open surgery groups. The outcomes included in-hospital morbidity, reoperation, readmission for intussusception, bowel resection, the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum, duration of anesthesia, postoperative length of hospital stay, and total hospitalization costs.

RESULTS

The laparoscopic surgery group was older, heavier, and had fewer congenital malformations and emergency admissions than the open surgery group did. Overlap weighting analyses showed no significant differences in in-hospital morbidity (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.88 [0.35-2.23]), reoperation (1.88 [0.24-14.9]), readmission for intussusception within 30 days (0.80 [0.12-5.30]) and 1 year (0.90 [0.28-2.93]), bowel resection (0.69 [0.46-1.02]), the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum (0.97 [0.50-1.90]), duration of anesthesia (difference, 11 [-1-24] minutes), postoperative length of stay (difference, -1.9 [-4.2-0.4] days), or total hospitalization costs (difference, 612 [ -746-1970] US dollars) between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large nationwide cohort, no significant differences in outcomes were observed between laparoscopic and open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is an acceptable treatment option for pediatric intussusception.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Outcome a decade after laparoscopic and open Nissen fundoplication in children: results from a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing long-term outcome after laparoscopic (LF) and open fundoplication (OF) in children are lacking. Here we report recurrence rates and time to recurrence, frequency of re-interventions, use of antisecretory drugs, gastrointestinal symptoms, and patient/parental satisfaction a decade after children were randomized to LF or OF.

METHODS

Cross-sectional long-term follow-up study of a two-center RCT that included patients during 2003-2009. Patients/parents were interviewed and medical charts reviewed for any events that might be related to the fundoplication. If suspicion of recurrence, further diagnostics were performed. Informed consent and ethical approval were obtained.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov: NCT01551134.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight children, 56 (64%) boys, were randomized (LF 44, OF 44) at median 4.4 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.0-8.9] years. 46 (52%) had neurological impairment. Three were lost to follow-up before first scheduled control. Recurrence was significantly more frequent after LF (24/43, 56%) than after OF (13/42, 31%, p = 0.004). Median time to recurrence was 1.0 [IQR 0.3-2.2] and 5.1 [IQR 1.5-9.3] years after LF and OF, respectively. Eight (19%) underwent redo fundoplication after LF and three (7%) after OF (p = 0.094). Seventy patients/parents were interviewed median 11.9 [IQR 9.9-12.8] years postoperatively. Among these, use of anti-secretory drugs was significantly decreased from preoperatively after both LF (94% vs. 35%, p < 0.001) and OF (97% vs. 19%, p < 0.001). Regurgitation/vomiting were observed in 6% after LF and 3% after OF (p = 0.609), and heartburn in 14% after LF and 17% after OF (p = 1.000). Overall opinion of the surgical scars was good in both groups (LF: 95%, OF: 86%, p = 0.610). Patient/parental satisfaction with outcome was high, independent of surgical approach (LF: 81%, OF: 88%, p = 0.500).

CONCLUSIONS

The recurrence rate was higher and recurrence occurred earlier after LF than after OF. Patient/parental satisfaction with outcome after both LF and OF was equally high.

Laparoscopic versus Open Pediatric Surgery: Three Decades of Comparative Studies

INTRODUCTION

 Despite its wide acceptance, the superiority of laparoscopic versus open pediatric surgery has remained controversial. There is still a call for well-founded evidence. We reviewed the literature on studies published in the last three decades and dealing with advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopy compared to open surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 Studies comparing laparoscopic versus open abdominal procedures in children were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE. Reports on upper and lower gastrointestinal as hepatobiliary surgery and on surgery of pancreas and spleen were included. Advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery were analyzed for different types of procedures. Complications were categorized using the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

 A total of 239 studies dealing with 19 types of procedures and outcomes in 929,157 patients were analyzed. We identified 26 randomized controlled trials (10.8%) and 213 comparative studies (89.2%). The most frequently reported advantage of laparoscopy was shorter hospital stay in 60.4% of studies. Longer operative time was the most frequently reported disadvantage of laparoscopy in 52.7% of studies. Clavien-Dindo grade I to III complications (mild-moderate) were less frequently identified in laparoscopic compared to open procedures (80.3% of studies). Grade-IV complications (severe) were less frequently reported after laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis and more frequently after laparoscopic Kasai's portoenterostomy. We identified a decreased frequency of reporting on advantages after laparoscopy and increased reporting on disadvantages for all surgery types over the decades.

CONCLUSION

 Laparoscopic compared with open pediatric surgery seems to be beneficial in most types of procedures. The number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains limited. However, the number of reports on disadvantages increased during the past decades.

Nationwide Outcomes and Readmission After Pediatric Laparoscopic and Open Fundoplication

Purpose: Fundoplications are a common operation in the pediatric population. This study aims to explore outcomes comparing laparoscopic versus open operative techniques. Methods: From 2010 to 2014 the Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify patients aged 0-18 years who underwent a fundoplication. Propensity score matched analysis was performed based on 87 covariates. Demographics, hospital factors, readmissions, and complications were compared by surgical technique (laparoscopic versus open). Results: There were 4411 patients (47% female) who underwent fundoplication via laparoscopic (69%) versus open (31%) technique. Gastrostomy tubes were placed in 75% of patients also undergoing fundoplication. Newborn made up 64% of the cohort, with 47% of newborns having cardiac anomalies and 96% being premature. Open fundoplications were more likely to be performed in newborns (72% versus 61%) and those in the lowest income quartile compared to laparoscopic (41% versus 31% P < .001), both P < .001. The readmission rate was 20% within 30 days and 38% within the year, with 15% admitted to a different hospital. Only 14% of readmissions were elective. Open fundoplication was associated with more unplanned readmissions (94% versus 84%), conversion to gastrojejunostomy tube (11% versus 5%) along with major (5% versus 3%) and minor (8% versus 2%) complications compared to the laparoscopic approach, all P < 0.001. Conclusion: The majority of fundoplications are being performed in newborns and are being done laparoscopically, which are associated with lower complication and postoperative readmission rates compared to open fundoplications.

Paediatric adhesive bowel obstruction: a systematic review

Adhesions following abdominal surgery remain a common cause of bowel obstruction. The incidence is between 1 and 12.6% in children who have had previous abdominal surgery. While conservative management is usually trialled in all patients (including children) suspected of having ASBO, the majority will require surgical intervention. New materials such as Seprafilm^® have been studied in the paediatric population, with promising results of its use in index abdominal surgeries to prevent the formation of adhesions. In this article, we conducted a systematic review to present an overview of the current knowledge on the incidence, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of ASBO.

Early Outcomes of Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Urachal Remnant Resection in Children: A Retrospective Analysis Using a Nationwide Inpatient Database in Japan

Background: There was no large study that assessed the surgical safety of laparoscopic surgery (LS) for urachal remnant resection. This study compared early postoperative outcomes between LS and open surgery (OS) for pediatric urachal remnant resection, using a national inpatient database. Patients and Methods: Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan, we compared postoperative complications, duration of anesthesia, postoperative length of stay, and total hospitalization cost between LS and OS for children undergoing urachal remnant surgery from April 2015 to March 2017. Propensity score-adjusted analyses were performed for outcomes. Results: Among 882 eligible patients (306 LS; 576 OS), there were no significant differences between LS and OS for postoperative complications (odds ratio: 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-2.18; P = .96) and postoperative length of stay (difference: 0.14 day; 95% CI: -0.27 to 0.54; P = .39). Compared with OS, LS had significantly longer duration of anesthesia (difference: 51 minutes; 95% CI: 42-60; P < .001) and significantly higher total hospitalization cost (difference: US$824; 95% CI: 399-1249; P < .001). Conclusions: In this large nationwide cohort study, LS for urachal remnant resection was associated with longer duration of anesthesia and higher total hospitalization cost. However, no differences were detected between LS and OS regarding postoperative complications and length of stay. LS for urachal remnant resection is equivalent to OS in terms of surgical safety.