Seminars in laparoscopic surgery最新文献

Fundoplication is among the most frequently performed procedures in infants and children. The Nissen fundoplication is the most commonly performed anti-reflux procedure done in the pediatric population. The broad indications include respiratory compromise, failure to thrive, neurologic impairment, and severe esophagitis. Over the last decade the application of a minimally invasive surgical technique to this procedure has received widespread acceptance among adult and pediatric surgeons and should now be considered the technique of choice.

As the laparoscopic approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was introduced in pediatric surgery in the last decade of the 20th century, it became apparent that this approach was beneficial. The favorable results have led to a more general acceptance and implementation of this type of surgery at the beginning of the 21st century. We give an overview of the first decade of laparoscopic antireflux procedures in children with an emphasis on the laparoscopic Thal fundoplication and its implication on morbidity and cure of GERD in the long term both for normal and mentally handicapped children. Between 1993 and 2002, 149 children with GERD underwent 157 laparoscopic antireflux procedures, of whom 48% were mentally handicapped. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 9 years (median age 4.5 years). Nineteen children died. All but one were not related to the antireflux procedure. Immediate relief of symptoms occurred in 120 children (80.5%). In 29 children, the results were less than optimal. Eight patients underwent a laparoscopic redo procedure (5.4%). However, none of the children with a follow-up of more than 5 years show any symptoms anymore. In conclusion, the laparoscopic Thal fundoplication is a safe procedure, and results in the long term are favorable, irrespective of the nature of the cause, ie, mental retardation.

Most children treated for gastroesophageal reflux have been neurologically impaired. With the recent growth of laparoscopic surgery, neurologically normal children are being referred for fundoplication. We review the presentation diagnostic workup and surgical therapy for children with gastroesophageal reflux unresponsive to medical management. Although many techniques are available for surgical correction of gastroesophageal reflux in children, the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication remains the standard for correction of gastroesophageal reflux. The technique is performed through five trocars, and emphasis is placed on obtaining at least 3 cm of intra-abdominal esophagus and holding the esophagus in this position with sutures between the crura and the esophagus. The fundoplication should be loose and no longer than 2 cm in length. Long-term follow-up has shown recurrence to be low in children who are neurologically normal as long as they do not gag and retch recurrently.

Laparoscopic fundoplication is performed commonly in children, and it represents "the gold standard" in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refractory to medical therapy. We present a single surgeon's experience with a posterior partial valve. Between May 1993 and May 2002, we operated on 574 children using Toupet's procedure. Among the patients, 24 were younger than 1 year of age, and 17 others were neurologically impaired. The average duration of the surgery was 1 hour. Complications were limited to 3 eviscerations of omentum through the port wounds. Relapse of GERD secondary to valve failure occurred in 6 patients, 1 neurologically impaired and 1 with mucoviscidosis. All six patients have been reoperated on laparoscopically, and Toupet fundoplication was performed again with good results. We think that the 270-degree posterior valve, according to Toupet, is a good procedure to adopt in children with GERD with a low rate of recurrence at long-term follow-up.

We determine the feasibility of laparoscopic revision surgery in children following previous open and laparoscopic antireflux operations. To give an objective overview about this topic, we analyzed the outcome of 15 children (8 girls and 7 boys) who had undergone attempted laparoscopic revision between 4 and 72 months (median 16 months) after a previous antireflux operation. Seven patients had previously undergone an open antireflux procedure (4 Nissen fundoplication; 3 Thal procedure) and 8 a laparoscopic procedure (5 Nissen; 3 Toupet's procedure). Two of these children were mentally handicapped. The indications for revision were: recurrent reflux, 5; valve migration, 5; valve dismount, 5. Eight procedures comprised construction of a new Nissen fundoplication and in 7 cases a Toupet's procedure was performed. Revision was successfully completed laparoscopically in 10 cases, 7 of 8 patients following a previous laparoscopic procedure and in 3 of 7 following a previous open operation. Operating time ranged between 70 and 140 minutes (median 90 minutes). No perioperative complications occurred in either group. All patients were discharged within 3 to 4 days after the redo procedure. Follow-up time varied between 6 months and 7 yrs. Preoperative symptoms were relieved in all patients and all antireflux medication has been discontinued, except in two cases that still had rare symptoms. Although technically challenging, laparoscopic reoperation for recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease can be performed safely and with good results, in the hands of experienced endoscopic surgeons. Reoperation is likely to be more difficult following failure of an open procedure than after failure of a laparoscopic one. Concerning the type of procedure, redo surgery is more difficult to perform after Nissen's than after Toupet's or Thal's procedure.

A growing number of the pediatric antireflux procedures are performed laparoscopically. Although there are no prospective randomized studies comparing conventional open surgery to laparoscopic surgery, there are retrospective and anecdotal data suggesting that the laparoscopic approach is at least as good and, in many cases, better than the open procedure. Once the significant learning curve is achieved, one may attain similar operative times with the benefit of magnification and enhanced visualization of the operative field compared to open surgery. The greatest benefits of laparoscopic antireflux surgery are the cosmetic result, a decrease in postoperative analgesia requirements, and an earlier return to normal daily life for both parents and their children.

The decision for antireflux surgery is often made on an individual basis. How symptom patterns and therapeutic suggestions relate is debatable. There is a long list of differential diagnoses for vomiting not caused by disturbances of the lower esophageal sphincter. Guidelines for the clinical practice in gastroesophageal reflux have been established for children and for adult patients by the Genval Workshop Report and the Trondheim Consensus statement. Endoscopy is indicated if macroscopically visible lesions are to be expected. Routine endoscopic biopsy is not used in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). pH monitoring is performed in 33 to 77% of patients. If the most prominent symptoms are respiratory, radiographic studies and pH monitoring prove that the symptoms are really related to GERD. Best results with drugs are achieved by effective initial therapy. The effects of long-term treatment are little known. Failed long-term therapy, complications of esophagitis, recurrent aspiration, apnea or "near miss" sudden infant death syndrome, failure to thrive and anatomical abnormalities are indications for surgery. The superiority of laparoscopic antireflux surgery over open surgery depends on the experience of the surgeon. Some surgeons choose a "tailored approach", ie, perform a partial wrap in children with normal peristalsis, an extrashort "floppy" Nissen or a partial wrap for those with impaired peristalsis, and a slightly tighter 360-degree wrap in neurologically impaired children. Partial wraps allow vomiting, which is considered risky in neurologically impaired children.