The Eleven Years' Experience with Fundoplication in Infants and Children

ABSTRACT

Fundoplication is a common surgical procedure for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Recently the procedure has been performed with increased frequency laparoscopically. The aim of this study is to review our 11 years experience with fundoplication in infants and children. From October 1994 to December 2005, 59 fundoplications in 55 patients were performed at Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Medical Center. Medical records and laboratory results of these children were retrospectively reviewed for sex, age, symptoms and signs, coexisting disease, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and length of operative time. Open fundoplication was performed in 41 cases and laparoscopic fundoplication in 18 cases. Simultaneous gastrostomy was done in 27 cases. Recurrent GERD symptom occurred in four patients (7.2 %) within 2 years after first fundoplication and all 4 patients had re-do fundoplication. There were no intra- and immediate post-operative complications. Gastrointesitnal symptoms were the most common indication for fundoplication in neurologically normal patients. The most frequent diagnostic studies were upper gastrointestinal series (76.3 %) and 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring (78.2 %). Fundoplication had been increased since 2004 and mostly done laparoscopically. In conclusion, our 11 years' practice of open and laparoscopic fundoplication indicates that both approaches are safe and effective in the treatment of GERD for infants and children.