[Videolaparoscopic treatment of paraesophageal hiatal hernia]

Laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernia without prosthetic reinforcement: late results and relevance of anterior gastropexy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic treatment of large hiatal hernias seems to be associated with a high recurrence rate that some authors suggest to bring down by performing prosthetic closure of the hiatus. However, prosthetic repair remains controversial owing to severe and still underestimated complications. The aims of this study were to assess the long-term functional and objective results of laparoscopic treatment without prosthetic patch, and to identify the risk factors of recurrence.

METHODS

From November 1992 to March 2009, 89 patients underwent laparoscopic treatment of a large hiatal hernia without prosthetic patch, involving excision of the hernial sac, cruroplasty, fundoplication, and often anterior gastropexy. The postoperative assessment consisted of a barium esophagram on day 2, an office visit at 2 months with a 24-h pH study, an esophageal manometry, and then a long-term prospective yearly follow-up with a barium esophagram at 2 years.

RESULTS

Out of the 89 laparoscopic procedures, four required a conversion (4.4%). Seventy-seven patients underwent a Boerema's anterior gastropexy (86.5%). The morbidity rate was 7.8%, and the mortality rate was nil. Eleven patients (12.3%) were lost to follow-up. We had 91.5% of very good early functional results and 75.3% of good results after a mean follow-up of 57.5 months. Fourteen recurrences of hiatal hernias (15.7%) were identified, four of which (28.6%) occurred early after surgery. Three factors seemed significantly associated with recurrence: the absence of anterior gastropexy (p = 0.0028), the group of younger patients (p = 0.03), and a history of abdominal surgery (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Large hiatal hernias can be treated by laparoscopy without prosthetic patch with a satisfying long-term result. Performing anterior gastropexy seems to significantly reduce the recurrences.

Volvulus gastrique: diagnostic et prise en charge thérapeutique

Gastric volvulus is defined as an abnormal rotation of all or part of the stomach around one of its axes. It is a diagnostic emergency and therapeutic challenge because in acute forms it may lead to gastric strangulation with a high risk of ischemia and necrosis. Organoaxial and mesentericoaxial volvulus are distinguished according to the direction of rotation. The most common cause of gastric volvulus is hiatal hernia, but the principal predisposing factor is ligamentous laxity. The diagnosis is suspected when erect chest radiograph images show a high air-fluid level in the chest. Moreover a barium swallow is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Nonetheless, a computed tomography (CT) scan now provides a comprehensive description of the thoracic lesion, including stomach vitality. Gastric volvulus requires surgical treatment, specifically volvulus reduction, reintegration of the stomach into the abdominal cavity in cases of intrathoracic migration, and correction of causal factors. Resection of the hernial sac and the role of gastropexy for preventing recurrence remain controversial. Advances in laparoscopic surgery have made possible a laparoscopic approach to most cases of chronic gastric volvulus.

Short esophagus: literature incidence

There are controversies regarding existence and incidence of short esophagus. The authors reviewed the literature incidence of short esophagus among operated patients due to gastroesophageal reflux disease in the last 3 years. The overall incidence of short esophagus was 1.53%. The proposed risk factors (paraesophageal hernia, Barrett's esophagus, reoperation, esophageal strictures and access route) do have a higher incidence of short esophagus, with the exception of the Barrett's esophagus. Although several biases can be associated with the review, the authors identified the short esophagus incidence in the literature.

Paraesophageal hernias: operation or observation?

OBJECTIVE

To examine the hypothesis that elective laparoscopic repair should be routinely performed on patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The management of asymptomatic paraesophageal hernias is a controversial issue. Most surgeons believe that all paraesophageal hernias should be corrected electively on diagnosis, irrespective of symptoms, to prevent the development of complications and avoid the risk of emergency surgery.

METHODS

A Markov Monte Carlo decision analytic model was developed to track a hypothetical cohort of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernia and reflect the possible clinical outcomes associated with two treatment strategies: elective laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (ELHR) or watchful waiting (WW). The input variables for ELHR were estimated from a pooled analysis of 20 published studies, while those for WW and emergency surgery were derived from the 1997 HCUP-NIS database and surgical literature published from 1964 to 2000. Outcomes for the two strategies were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

Analysis of the HCUP-NIS database showed that published studies overestimate the mortality of emergency surgery (17% vs. 5.4%). The mortality rate of ELHR was 1.4%. The annual probability of developing acute symptoms requiring emergency surgery with the WW strategy was 1.1%. For patients 65 years of age, ELHR resulted in reduction of 0.13 QALYs (10.78 vs. 10.65) compared with WW. The model predicted that WW was the optimal treatment strategy in 83% of patients and ELHR in the remaining 17%. The model was sensitive only to alterations of the mortality rates of ELHR and emergency surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

If ELHR is routinely recommended, it would be more beneficial than WW in fewer than one of five patients. WW is a reasonable alternative for the initial management of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias, and even if an emergency operation is required, the burden of the procedure is not as severe as was thought in the past.

Paraesophageal hernias: operation or observation?

OBJECTIVE

To examine the hypothesis that elective laparoscopic repair should be routinely performed on patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The management of asymptomatic paraesophageal hernias is a controversial issue. Most surgeons believe that all paraesophageal hernias should be corrected electively on diagnosis, irrespective of symptoms, to prevent the development of complications and avoid the risk of emergency surgery.

METHODS

A Markov Monte Carlo decision analytic model was developed to track a hypothetical cohort of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernia and reflect the possible clinical outcomes associated with two treatment strategies: elective laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair (ELHR) or watchful waiting (WW). The input variables for ELHR were estimated from a pooled analysis of 20 published studies, while those for WW and emergency surgery were derived from the 1997 HCUP-NIS database and surgical literature published from 1964 to 2000. Outcomes for the two strategies were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

Analysis of the HCUP-NIS database showed that published studies overestimate the mortality of emergency surgery (17% vs. 5.4%). The mortality rate of ELHR was 1.4%. The annual probability of developing acute symptoms requiring emergency surgery with the WW strategy was 1.1%. For patients 65 years of age, ELHR resulted in reduction of 0.13 QALYs (10.78 vs. 10.65) compared with WW. The model predicted that WW was the optimal treatment strategy in 83% of patients and ELHR in the remaining 17%. The model was sensitive only to alterations of the mortality rates of ELHR and emergency surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

If ELHR is routinely recommended, it would be more beneficial than WW in fewer than one of five patients. WW is a reasonable alternative for the initial management of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic paraesophageal hernias, and even if an emergency operation is required, the burden of the procedure is not as severe as was thought in the past.