Reiterative laparoscopic surgery for recurrent gastroesophageal reflux

Does retching matter? Reviewing the evidence-Physiology and forces

Failure of antireflux surgery is common in children with neurodisability, with a high incidence of persistent or recurrent symptoms, including retching. Anatomical disruption of the wrap is a frequent finding, but what forces underlie this disruption? This article reviews the forces generated during potential wrap-stressing episodes, putting them into the clinical context of wrap failure. Historically, wrap failure has been attributed to pressures arising from a reduction in gastric capacity or compliance, with advocates for an additional, gastric emptying procedure, at the time of fundoplication. However, any postoperative pressure changes are small and insufficient to cause disruption, and evidence of benefit from gastric emptying procedures is lacking. Diaphragmatic stressor events are common in the presence of neurodisability, and there is now increasing recognition of an association between diaphragmatic stressors and wrap breakdown. The analysis in this review demonstrates that the greatest forces on the fundoplication wrap are those associated with retching and vomiting. The direction and magnitude of these forces are sufficient to cause wrap herniation into the thorax, and wrap separation. Clinical series confirm that retching is consistently and strongly associated with wrap breakdown. Retching needs to be addressed if we are to reduce the incidence of wrap failure. Level of Evidence V.

Hiatal and paraesophageal hernia repair in pediatric patients

Hiatal and paraesophageal hernia (HH/PEH) can be congenital, resulting from embryologic abnormalities/genetic predisposition, or acquired, most commonly after gastroesophageal surgery such as fundoplication. Minimizing circumferential esophageal dissection at the time of Nissen fundoplication has been shown to decrease the risk of acquired HH/PEH from 36.5% to 12.2%. Gastrointestinal, respiratory, and constitutional symptoms, including anemia and failure to thrive, are common with high rates of associated gastroesophageal reflux. Chest x-ray is often abnormal and upper GI confirms the diagnosis. Treatment is surgical with the goal of reducing the hernia contents, excising the hernia sac, closing the crura, and performing an antireflux procedure. The laparoscopic approach is safe and effective.

Evaluation of laparoscopic management of recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia: long term results and evaluation of changing trends

INTRODUCTION

Recurrent gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) following fundoplication remains a common problem. This study evaluates a long-term experience with laparoscopic management of these cases.

METHODS

From January 1994 to December 2012, 252 patients with recurrent GERD underwent a laparoscopic redo Nissen (LRN) fundoplication with average age of 6.8years. Eighty-four had previous open fundoplications and 144 previous LNRs. Thirty-two had more than one previous fundoplication.

RESULTS

All procedures were completed laparoscopically. The average operative time was 82min. The intra-operative complication rate was 5.1%, the most common being a gastrostomy during the mobilization. The average time to full feeds was 1.4days, and the average hospital stay was 1.6days. The post-operative complication rate was 3.6%. The wrap failure rate was 6.2%. The most common cause of wrap failure was H/H, with increasing incidence of slipped wrap during the second half. The highest recurrence rate was in patients receiving their LNR before 4months of age.

CONCLUSIONS

Redo Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is safe and effective, with the same benefits as a primary laparoscopic Nissen, with low morbidity and quick recovery. A change in the etiology of recurrence suggests that there is a failure to adequately identify and mobilize the GE junction in laparoscopic cases.

Two decades of experience with laparoscopic nissen fundoplication in infants and children: a critical evaluation of indications, technique, and results

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease has become a common procedure performed in infants and children over the last 20 years. This report describes a 20-year experience with nearly 2000 consecutive laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

With Institutional Review Board approval, the data of all patients undergoing fundoplication from 1992 to 2011 were reviewed. Data were kept prospectively from the time of first encounter with each patient. Ages ranged from 5 days to 18 years, and weight ranged from 1.2 to 120 kg. The 2008 fundoplications were performed by or under the direct supervision of a single surgeon. Patients were divided into groups based on age: <6 months, 6-12 months, 1-6 years, and >6 years. Data on indications, surgical demographics, postoperative course including any complications, and long-term follow-up were kept prospectively on each patient.

RESULTS

Average operative time dropped dramatically from 109 minutes for the first 30 cases compared with 35 minutes for the last 30. Of the 283 procedures that were redo fundoplications, 85 patients had had previous open surgery, and 198 cases had had previous laparoscopic surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were 0.13% and 4.0%, respectively, in the primary group but were 2.2% and 4.2%, respectively, in the redo group. Average time to discharge post-fundoplication for the primary group was 1.1 days. The overall wrap failure rate for primary fundoplications was 4.6% and was highest in the <6-month age group. The failure rate in the redo group was 6.8%. The most common causes of wrap failure were hiatal hernia (46%) and slipped Nissen (34%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows in a large operative experience over 20 years that laparoscopic fundoplication is safe and effective in the pediatric population. Technical considerations are paramount to improved outcomes, and key points include adequate creation of intraabdominal esophagus, limited hiatal dissection, creation of a tension-free and appropriate orientation, and positioning of the wrap. Clinical results are favorable to the traditional open fundoplication but with a significant decrease in morbidity and hospitalization. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication should be considered the gold standard for antireflux procedures.

Laparoscopic redo fundoplication in children: failure causes and feasibility

PURPOSE

This retrospective study reports our experience in laparoscopic approach after failure of antireflux surgery. It evaluates the results and circumstances of failure of the initial procedure to understand indications of refundoplication.

METHODS

Four hundred seventeen patients were operated on for a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by laparoscopy in our unit from August 1993 to February 2005. Thirty redo procedures (7.19%) were performed. The indications were 24 (80%) recurrent reflux resistant to the medical treatment and 6 (20%) severe dysphagia resistant to iterative dilatations. The average age was 57.6 months. Nineteen patients (63%) were males and 11 patients (37%) were females. The time between the first and the redo procedure was an average of 16 months. Ten (33%) of them were neurologically impaired (NI); in 7 patients, a percutaneus gastrostomy was also associated. The techniques previously used were 13 Nissen, 7 Nissen-Rossetti, and 10 Toupet.

RESULTS

The redo procedure was performed by laparoscopy in 27 cases. A conversion was necessary in 3 children because of a difficult dissection. In the 24 cases of recurrent reflux, we realized a valve disassembly, reconstruction of hiatus and Nissen refundoplication. In 3 cases of dysphagia, the release of the hiatus needed a complete valve redo. The mean operative time was 140 minutes (110 to 240 minutes). The sole complication was a pleural perforation. All patients were fed on the first day. The mean duration of hospitalization was 3.1 days. The follow-up was from 48 months to 12 years. A new recurrent reflux occurred in 6 patients; 5 of them were NI.

CONCLUSION

The failure rate of the antireflux laparoscopic surgery is similar to the conventional surgery. The redo procedure is possible by laparoscopic with a success rate similar to the open redo surgery. The rate and morbidity of complications are acceptable and decrease with experienced surgeons. The indications of redo procedures should be similar to conventional surgery.