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Laparoscopic Fundoplication in Children with Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunts
Abstract
Background:
Children with ventriculo-peritoneal (V-P) shunts have a significant risk of morbidity and mortality from infections. Many of these patients have other co-morbidities and may require subsequent abdominal surgery, including fundoplication with or without gastrostomy placement. The aim of our study was to assess the outcomes of laparoscopic fundoplication in children with a V-P shunt in situ.
Subjects and methods:
A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database on children who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication with a V-P shunt in situ at the time of surgery between July 1998 and March 2011 was conducted. Primary outcomes included intra- and postoperative complications as well as shunt-related problems within a 6-month period after surgery. The subset of children with V-P shunts was compared with those who underwent fundoplication without shunts. Variables were compared using the two-tailed Student's t test, chi-squared test, or Fisher's exact test. Significance was defined as P≤.05.
Results:
Out of a total of 343 children who underwent fundoplication, 11 (6 girls, 5 boys) had a V-P shunt in situ at the time of surgery (3.2%). The median age at laparoscopy was 2.2 years (range, 0.7-13.8 years). Weight at surgery ranged from 5.8 to 39.0 kg (median, 12.0 kg). The operating time (without gastrostomy placement) was 105 minutes (range, 80-140 minutes). In 6 patients (55%) moderate to severe adhesions were documented, but only 1 child required conversion to open surgery because of bleeding from the omentum. In a second patient the colon was perforated during insertion of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and repaired laparoscopically. There was no postoperative shunt dysfunction or infection related to the laparoscopic procedure. There was no significant difference between V-P shunt patients and the main cohort regarding operating time, conversion to open surgery, need for admission to a high-care unit, opiate requirements, time to full feeds, and length of hospital stay.
Conclusions:
These data suggest that laparoscopic fundoplication is feasible in children with previous V-P shunt placement. Although there were considerable adhesions in approximately half of these patients, the rate for conversion to open surgery was low. Complications associated with simultaneous PEG insertion occur and should be anticipated by placing the gastrostomy under laparoscopic guidance.
... Indeed, 55% of patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication have moderate to severe adhesions, resulting in difficulty in identifying vital organs and contributing to poor visibility in the surgical field. 12 Focusing on adults, there are also reports of patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in which 57% required open conversion because of adhesions. 13 Rosenfeld et al. retrospectively examined the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic gastrostomy in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts and reported no significant differences in operative time or postoperative complications. ...
Background: Laparoscopic fundoplication is commonly performed in patients with neurological impairment. However, these patients often have spinal deformities that can complicate achieving a clear surgical view. This study aimed to identify factors associated with poor visibility in pediatric laparoscopic fundoplication.
Methods: Operative videos, medical records, and radiographs of patients who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication between 2015 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The videos were reviewed by two pediatric surgeons and classified into good or poor visibility groups. Age, sex, height, weight, history of abdominal surgery, lordosis, operative time, blood loss, and intraoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Lordosis was evaluated using the sagittal view of computed tomography images, and the anterior vertebral depth and abdominal thickness were measured to calculate the ratio.
Results: Forty-one patients were included in this study. Based on the video review, the patients were classified into good (20 patients) and poor (21 patients) visibility groups. The median age, height, and weight were 6 years, 110 cm, and 16.1 kg, respectively. In the poor visibility group, 23.8% of patients had a history of abdominal surgery (P = .048). Additionally, the anterior vertebral depth to abdominal thickness ratios at the first and third lumbar vertebrae were significantly lower in the poor visibility group (P = .016 and P = .0018, respectively). There were no significant differences in the operative time, blood loss, or intraoperative complications between the two groups.
Conclusions: Lordosis and a history of abdominal surgery may be risk factors for poor visibility in pediatric laparoscopic fundoplication.
... The impact of PAS on these patients is debated. It was previously reported that PAS can be associated with prolonged operative times, increased conversion and complications rates [11,12], and poorer postoperative outcome [11][12][13][14]. However, others report comparable morbidity and functional results with and without PAS [8,[15][16][17]. ...
Importance
Fundoplication (FP) is a well-established surgical treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refractory to medical therapy in children and young adults. During FP, previous abdominal surgery (PAS) can impair the patient’s outcome by causing technical difficulties and increasing intra- and postoperative complication rates.
Objective
The aim of this study was to determine the impact of PAS on the short- and long-term outcome following FP for refractory GERD in a cohort of patients aged < 23 years.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 182 patients undergoing a total of 201 FP procedures performed at our university center for pediatric surgery from February 1999 to October 2019. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables were recorded and their impact on the rate of intraoperative complications and revision FP (reFP) was analyzed.
Results
A total of 201 FP procedures were performed on 182 patients: 119 (59.2%) as Thal-FP (180° anterior wrap) and 82 (40.8%) as Nissen-FP (360°circular wrap; 67.2% laparoscopic, 32.8% open, 8.9% conversion). The presence of PAS (95 cases, 47.3%) was associated with significantly longer operative times for FP (153.4 ± 53.7 vs.126.1 ± 56.4 min, p = 0.001) and significantly longer hospital stays (10.0 ± 7.0 vs. 7.0 ± 4.0 days, p < 0.001), while the rates of intraoperative surgical complications (1.1% vs. 1.9%, p = 1.000) and the rate re-FP in the long term (8.4% vs. 15.1%, p = 0.19) during a follow-up period of 53.4 ± 44.5 months were comparable to the group without PAS.
Conclusion
In cases of PAS in children and young adults, FP for refractory GERD might necessitate longer operative times and longer hospital stays but can be performed with surgery-related short- and long-term complication rates comparable to cases without PAS.
Background: Data on the outcomes of laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) in patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are limited. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the demographic characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent LF at our institutions between 2014 and 2022. Then, we systematically reviewed articles in MEDILINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Results: There was no significant difference in terms of the outcomes between patients with VP shunt (n = 10) and those without (n = 96) at our institutions. None of the patients presented with shunt trouble after LF. The meta-analysis included four retrospective studies and our institutional data. In total, 605 patients (55 with VP shunt) underwent LF. Furthermore, 2 (3.6%) of 55 patients (1 with infection and 1 with occlusion) had shunt troubles. The conversion and complication rates, operative time, and length of hospital stay did not significantly differ between patients with VP shunt and those without. Conclusions: LF can be safely performed on children with VP shunts and is associated with a low risk of shunt troubles. The Clinical Trial Registration number is 2022-387.
In pediatric patients requiring abdominal operations, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts for hydrocephalus are a frequently encountered comorbidity. Laparoscopy has not been extensively evaluated in this population, and there are concerns about the safety of insufflation under pressure with the shunt in place. There are a paucity of data in the literature to address this issue. Further, there is a relative lack of long-term follow-up in the literature to document shunt function over time after abdominal procedures. Therefore, we reviewed our experience in patients with VP shunts who underwent either open or laparoscopic abdominal procedures to determine the safety of laparoscopy in these patients.
We conducted a retrospective review of all pediatric patients with VP shunts who underwent laparoscopic and/or open abdominal operations at a single institution from 1998 to 2008. Complications were defined as a shunt- or surgery-related event (including any shunt revisions) within 6 months of abdominal surgery. Continuous variables were compared by using an independent sampled, two-tailed Student's t-test. Discrete variables were analyzed with Fisher's exact test with Yates correction, where appropriate. Significance was defined as P < or = 0.05.
A total of 99 intra-abdominal operations were performed on patients with VP shunts: 51 were laparoscopic and 48 were open. Mean age was 3.17 versus 2.93 years, respectively (P = 0.77). The most common procedure performed in both groups was fundoplication with gastrostomy. There were no episodes of air embolism into the shunt. There was 1 shunt infection in the laparoscopic group and 3 in the open group (P = 0.56).
Our data suggest that laparoscopy is safe in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
There have been multiple reports in the adult literature stating that previous open operations should no longer be considered a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach. However, there are little data on this topic in the pediatric population, particularly in patients with neonatal abdominal pathology unique to the newborn population. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with laparoscopic fundoplication after a variety of previous abdominal conditions and operations in the pediatric population.
An institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review was performed on all patients undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication after a previous open operation between October 2000 and December 2007. The data collected demographics, comorbid conditions, previous abdominal operations, gastrostomy tube placement, time interval between the initial operation and laparoscopic fundoplication, conversions, and complications.
Forty-five patients underwent a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication after an open operation during the study interval. Mean age was 41.3 months (range, 1-233) with a mean weight of 14.3 kg (range, 2.9-63.6), and 31 were (78.9%) male. A total of 61 previous abdominal operations were performed (range, 1-4). Mean time between last open operation and laparoscopic fundoplication was 27.3 months (range, 0.5-147). Mean operative time was 161 minutes (range, 73-420). There were no conversions and 3 perioperative complications occurred (splenic hematoma, clogged gastrostomy tube, and liver bleed). Early reoperations were performed in 2 patients (4.4%): 1 for bleeding on day 2 and the other for leaking gastrostomy day 12.
Our data demonstrate that laparoscopic fundoplication after a previous open operation is feasible and safe.
The authors report the first documented case of laparoscopically induced ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure.
Laparoscopic surgery has become a preferred method of accessing and treating a variety of intraperitoneal pathology. Surgeons can expect to encounter patients who have previously undergone placement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts who present as candidates for laparoscopic procedures. Currently, the presence of a CSF shunt is not considered to be a contraindication to laparoscopy. We report the first documented case of laparoscopically induced VP shunt failure. CLINICAL HISTORY: A patient with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus underwent laparoscopic placement of a feeding jejunostomy. Postoperatively, clinical and radiographic evidence of shunt failure was noted. The patient underwent emergent shunt revision. Intraoperatively, an isolated distal shunt obstruction was encountered. Gentle irrigation cleared the occlusion. We believe that this shunt dysfunction was secondary to impaction of either soft tissue or air within the distal catheter as a consequence of peritoneal insufflation.
It is concluded that laparoscopic surgery may represent a potential danger in patients with pre-existing CSF shunts. The risk of neurological injury faced by this patient population during laparoscopy is derived from peritoneal insufflation and relates to two primary concerns. The first is impaired CSF drainage due to a sustained elevated distal pressure gradient or, as in our case, an acute distal catheter obstruction. The second concern relates to the potential for retrograde insufflation of the CSF spaces through an incompetent shunt valve mechanism. Distal shunt catheter externalization performed in conjunction with a neurosurgeon during the laparoscopic procedure would prevent these complications. Internalization of the distal shunt catheter would then be performed at the completion of the laparoscopic procedure.
Adult laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has been steadily growing since its introduction to the United States in the 1990s. Its advantage over the traditional open approach is manifold. Application of laparoscopic fundoplication to children is slowly but surely following this trend. This study evaluates our initial experience with pediatric laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications.
We reviewed the records of 25 consecutive laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications performed by a single surgeon (GS) at our institution in the past three years. The patient ages ranged from 7 months to 18 years (mean, 7 years). All patients had documented gastroesophageal reflux disease. Complications from the reflux included vomiting in 15 patients, failure to thrive in nine, esophagitis in nine, and pulmonary symptoms in six.
All Nissen fundoplications were performed laparoscopically without need for conversion to open technique. Blood loss was less than 50 cc in all cases. A tube gastrostomy was concurrently performed in 17. Mean operative time in all cases was 221 minutes. Average postoperative day on which feedings were begun was day 2, with an average resumption of regular feedings on postoperative day 3.5. Average date of discharge was postoperative day 6.8. Complications included difficulty controlling glucose in an insulin-dependent diabetic, and a lost needle, which added an additional hour to the operative time. There were eight admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit, all for observation secondary to their underlying medical problems. There was one postoperative death due to an underlying medical condition.
Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a safe and effective treatment option for children suffering from significant reflux. Time to regular feeding, analgesia requirements and hospital stay are decreased when compared to traditional procedures. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication may well become the procedure of choice for pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease.
There is little published evidence regarding intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts who undergo cholecystectomy.
Nationwide Department of Veterans Affairs databases were searched to identify patients with International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes for a VP shunt who later had a cholecystectomy during fiscal years 1994 to 2003. Charts on these patients were obtained and reviewed.
Twenty-three patients were deemed evaluable. Of these, 8 had laparoscopic converted to open cholecystectomies. All conversions were owing to dense adhesions. There were 2 cases of postoperative shunt infection that required shunt removal and replacement.
The rate of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy was 57% in this study, significantly higher than the reported rate of conversion for patients without shunts in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (5%). Cholecystectomy in adult patients with a preexisting ventriculoperitoneal shunt appears to result in a shunt infection rate similar to that reported after shunt insertion or revision.
Laparoscopic fundoplication is increasingly performed in pediatric surgery. Many types of fundoplication are performed, each has advantages and disadvantages. To date there has been no prospective randomized study to determine the optimal laparoscopic technique in children. The aim of the study was to compare the long-term outcomes and control of symptoms after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication with laparoscopic Thal fundoplication in children.
Between July 1998 and April 2007, 175 patients were recruited to this prospective, randomized study. Patients were assessed before the operation and after defined intervals starting at 3 months after surgery. The "absolute" outcome measure for fundoplication failure was recurrence of symptoms that merited a redofundoplication or insertion of a transgastric jejunostomy. "Relative" outcome measures were recurrence of symptoms necessitating reintroduction of antireflux medication (ie, "intention to treat") and postoperative complications (eg, postoperative dysphagia). The median follow-up time was 30 months (range, 1-109). This study has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01027975).
Long-term results were available in 167 patients of which 85 underwent a Nissen and 82 a Thal fundoplication. Four patients in the Nissen group (4.7%) and 12 in the Thal group (14.6%) required a redofundoplication. One child in each group developed recurrence of symptoms and had a transgastric jejunostomy performed. The "absolute" failure rate was significant lower in the Nissen group (n = 5; 5.9%) compared with the Thal group (n = 13; 15.9%) (P = 0.038). The vast majority of these patients (17 of 18) had underlying neurological disorders. The "relative" failure rate (ie, "intention to treat") was similar in both groups. Nearly one-quarter of patients developed postoperative dysphagia similarly distributed between both groups. However, severe dysphagia requiring endoscopy +/- dilatation was significantly higher in the Nissen group (n = 10, 11.8%) compared with the Thal group (n = 2; 2.4%) (P = 0.020). One of 31 deaths (0.6%) in this series occurred after surgery, but was not directly related to the fundoplication technique.
In the long-term a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication had a significantly lower recurrence rate than a Thal fundoplication, particularly in patients with underlying neurological disorders. There was no significant difference between the 2 types of fundoplication in normal children. There was no significant difference between the need for restarting antireflux medication between both groups because of recurrence of moderate symptoms. The incidence of postoperative dysphagia was similar in the 2 groups, however, significantly more patients in the Nissen group required intervention for severe dysphagia. Overall the perioperative death rate was low even in high-risk patients.
The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes, including intra- and perioperative complications following laparoscopic Nissen versus Thal fundoplication.
From July 1998 until April 2007, 175 patients were recruited. Patients were prospectively randomized to either a Nissen wrap or a Thal wrap. Observation period was 6 weeks after surgery.
89 Nissen and 86 Thal were performed. The mean age at the time of operation (OP) was 5.2 years. Demographics were similar, although weight at OP was significantly less in the Nissen group. Intraoperative complications during a Nissen included bleeding from a liver laceration in 2 patients (1 required conversion) and small bowel perforation during open port insertion in 1 patient. There were two conversions in the Thal group, due to bleeding from the omentum in 1 patient and equipment failure in the other. In a third patient the colon was perforated during insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and repaired laparoscopically. Post-OP dysphagia was similarly distributed among both groups, but was significantly more severe after a Nissen (P = 0.018). There were two early deaths: in the Nissen group, 1 child died from peritonitis after the gastrostomy tube fell out, whereas one death in the Thal group was caused by respiratory failure associated with the patient's underlying condition.
There was no statistical difference in the short-term outcomes between laparoscopic Nissen and Thal fundoplication, apart from a higher rate of esophagoscopy for severe dysphagia in the Nissen group. The higher number of postoperative complications in the Nissen group was largely due to gastrostomy-related problems.
The infectious implication of abdominal surgeries on ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts, including simultaneous shunt placement and management of shunt infections, has been ill defined in children.
We conducted a 9-year retrospective review of pediatric patients with VP shunts who underwent abdominal surgeries.
Forty-two patients fit criteria. The median age at shunt placement was 1.75 years, and the median time between shunt placement and abdominal surgery was 24 days. The most common procedures included gastrostomy (17), fundoplication (15), and appendectomy (3). Seven patients had simultaneous abdominal surgery and shunt placement. All patients received preoperative antibiotics. Two children developed shunt infections, both occurred after appendectomy. Both were treated with antibiotics, with one requiring shunt removal. Median length of stay was 24 days but 28 days for those with infections. Thirty-eight patients were discharged home, 3 to chronic care facilities, and 1 died.
Infections did not occur in children with VP shunts undergoing elective abdominal procedures or procedures simultaneously with shunt insertion. Infections were seen only with emergent appendectomies, suggesting that performing gastrointestinal procedures at the time of VP shunt insertion is safe. Children with VP shunts undergoing emergent surgery for peritoneal infection warrant close observation for shunt infection.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) provides for enteral nutrition in children with feeding problems. PEG, however, is not without complications. The present study has a twofold aim: (1) comparing our incidence of major complications after PEG with the incidence in other centers, and (2) identifying risk factors for major complications. All patients receiving a PEG or laparoscopic-assisted PEG (lap PEG) in the period 1992-2008 were reviewed. Primary outcome was the occurrence of major complications, defined as the need for surgery, non-prophylactic antibiotics, or blood transfusion, and procedure-related death. Potential risk factors, eg, age under 1 year, mental retardation, scoliosis, constipation, hepatomegaly, upper abdominal surgery, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, peritoneal dialysis, esophageal stenosis, and coagulopathy, were analyzed. Of the 467 patients (448 PEG, 19 lap PEG), 12.6% developed major complications. The complication rate significantly decreased (P = 0.003) over the years. A significantly higher complication rate of 32% (P = 0.02) occurred in children with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. None of the lap PEG procedures was associated with a major complication, but the difference was not significant, perhaps because of the small numbers in the latter group. The major complication rate after PEG in children is high. Preexisting ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a significant risk factor. Laparoscopically assisted PEG procedures seem to be associated with a lesser major complication rate.
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are the operations of choice for patients with hydrocephalus in most pediatric hospitals. Children with VP shunts frequently undergo abdominal operations unrelated to their shunts, which might lead to shunt infections or to malfunctions related to adhesions. Although prophylactic antibiotics are usually used in this setting, there are few data to support their use, or to assess other risks to the shunt from the abdominal procedures. Consequently, we reviewed the records of 37 children with VP shunts who underwent a total of 44 abdominal operations. In 8 cases, the genitourinary (GU) tract was opened (ureteral reimplantation, bladder augmentation, nephrectomy), whereas in 18 patients the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was opened (appendectomy, gastrostomy, small/large bowel resection). In 18 operations neither GI nor GU tract was opened (lysis of adhesions, herniorrhaphy, orchiopexy). Antibiotic coverage was highly variable: 9 received no antibiotics, 9 received antibiotics only postoperatively, 4 were given antibiotics only preoperatively, and in 22 cases antibiotics were given both preoperatively and postoperatively. One shunt that was involved in a periappendiceal abscess was exteriorized and later successfully replaced. In the remaining cases, no episodes of shunt infection or malfunction occurred in 1 to 10 years of follow-up. Likewise, no abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts formed as a result of abdominal adhesions. These data demonstrate that children with VP shunts can safely undergo abdominal operations, even when the GI or GU systems are opened, with minimal risk of shunt infection or malfunction. Rigid protocols of prophylactic antibiotics cannot be supported by this series.
We monitored changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) in 2 children with myelodysplasia undergoing laparoscopic bladder autoaugmentation. Both children had ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) secondary to Arnold-Chiari malformations (type II).
ICP was monitored through a 23-gauge needle placed into the shunt reservoir and connected to a pressure transducer and drainage system. Intraoperative mean arterial pressure, end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), ICP, abdominal pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressures were all monitored.
Both children demonstrated rapid onset and sustained increases in ICP of greater than 12 mm Hg above baseline to a maximum pressure of 25 mm Hg. The average cerebrospinal fluid removed from each patient was 30 cc, thereby lowering ICP with no adverse neurologic sequela. The pCO2 remained constant throughout the procedures, as measured by ETCO2.
We believe that intracranial hypertension (IH) results from a "Valsalva-like" phenomenon, which causes cerebral vascular engorgement. In addition, the pneumoperitoneum may increase the resistance to outflow through the distal peritoneal catheter, causing a partial or complete shunt obstruction. Untreated IH may result in adverse neurologic sequelae from brain herniation in these children with hindbrain anomalies and potentially altered brain compliance. We believe it is prudent to perform intraoperative ICP monitoring in this subgroup of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery and that IH should be treated by ventricular drainage.
Fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common procedure performed in infants and children. This report describes a 4-year experience with 220 consecutive laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications.
Ages ranged from 5 days to 18 years and weight from 1.4 to 100 kg. The procedures were performed using a five-trocar technique and with 5- or 3.4-mm instruments depending on the size of the patient.
Two hundred eighteen fundoplications were completed successfully. Average operative time dropped dramatically from 109 to 55 minutes for the first 30 cases compared with the last 30. Intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were 2.6% and 7.3%, respectively. Average time to discharge postfundoplication was 1.6 days. The wrap failure rate is 3.4%.
This study shows that although the learning curve for laparoscopic fundoplication may be steep, the procedure is safe and effective in the pediatric population. The clinical results are comparable to the traditional open fundoplication but with a significant decrease in morbidity and hospitalization.
In our institution, many children requiring antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux have had previous abdominal surgery, usually gastrostomy tube or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement. The authors review their laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) experience in children with previous abdominal surgery assessing surgical outcome.
A total of 82 consecutive LNFs performed at our institution between January 1996 and September 1998 were reviewed. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 32 months (average, 8.9 months). LNF was performed without dividing short gastric vessels (Rosetti modification) through a standard 5-port technique.
A total of 26 of 82 patients (31.7%) had previous abdominal surgery and were divided into 2 groups: gastrostomy (n = 17) and VP shunt (n = 11) with 2 crossovers. A total of 14 of 17 (82.3%) in the gastrostomy group had percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement versus 3 of 17 (17.6%) by open technique (open). Four patients in the VP group had multiple surgeries (range, 1 to 10, average, 2.3). LNF was completed in 25 of 26 (96.2%). One operation was converted to an open procedure because of severe adhesions. In 13 of 17 (76.5%) the previous gastrostomy was not taken down. In 4 of 17 (23.5%), the gastrostomy was taken down to complete the procedure: 2 of 3 (66.7%) of the open group versus 2 of 14 (14.3%) of the PEG group. All 11 (100%) of the VP group had successful LNF. Two of 11 (18.2%) had shunt dysfunction at 2 months (shunt infection) and 4 months (clogged distal shunt), respectively. There have been no cases of recurrent reflux, and all gastrostomies and VP shunts were functional at the time of this report.
Previous abdominal surgery is common in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease requiring an antireflux procedure. The authors conclude from these preliminary results that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be performed safely with minimal morbidity and excellent functional results in children with gastrostomies or ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts may require laparoscopic surgery. The authors aimed to determine if this group of children are at greater risk for complications or technical problems.
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1995 and 1998 were reviewed. In addition, the subset of children undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with the group of children without shunts who- had the same operation during the same period.
Ten children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts underwent laparoscopic surgery. Three had complications, none of which were caused by the shunt. None had any evidence of shunt dysfunction related to the laparoscopic procedure. The 6 children with shunts who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with 17 similar children without shunts who underwent the same operation during the same period. There were no differences between the groups with respect to operating time, conversion to an open approach, or complications.
Laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely and effectively in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Hydrocephalus is a common condition of childhood that usually requires insertion of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt. Infection is one of the most devastating complications that may arise from the presence of CSF shunts. In this study, the authors prospectively analyzed perioperative risk factors for CSF shunt infection in a cohort of children.
Between 1996 and 1999, 299 eligible patients underwent CSF shunt operations (insertions and revisions) that were observed by a research nurse at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Several perioperative variables were recorded. All cases were followed postoperatively for 6 months to note any development of CSF shunt infection. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the relationship between the variables and the development of shunt infection. Thirty-one patients (10.4%) experienced shunt infection. Three perioperative variables were significantly associated with an increased risk of shunt infection: 1) the presence of a postoperative CSF leak (hazard ratio [HR] 19.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.96-52.91); 2) patient prematurity (< 40 weeks' gestation at the time of shunt surgery: HR 4.72, 95% CI 1.71-13.06), and 3) the number of times the shunt system was inadvertently exposed to breached surgical gloves (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12).
Three variables associated with an increased incidence of shunt infection have been identified. Changes in clinical practice should address these variables, as follows. 1) Great care should be taken intraoperatively to avoid a postoperative CSF leak. 2) Alternatives to placement of a CSF shunt in premature infants should be studied. 3) Surgeons should minimize manual contact with the shunt system and consider the use of double gloves.
Laparoscopic fundoplication is a commonly performed procedure in children. This report describes the incidence of long-term recurrence and complications after laparoscopic Nissen or Toupet fundoplication in neurologically impaired and normal children.
Fifty-three children operated on before 1999 were reviewed. All children were evaluated clinically and with a barium meal study thereafter. Symptomatic children and those with abnormal barium meal underwent 24 h pH monitoring.
A total of 45 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 4.5 years. All, except one asymptomatic child that declined, had a barium meal. Four were abnormal (2 parahiatal hernias and 2 slight episodes of reflux). Four patients had symptoms related to the operation and 2 to clinical recurrence. Only 1 asymptomatic child with slight reflux at barium meal revealed abnormal 24 h pH monitoring. Finally, 6.6% patients were found to have late recurrence (2 clinical and 1 pHmetry). There was an obvious increase in children's weight, especially in neurologically impaired patients.
Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is of value in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The long-term results are comparable with open surgery, and there was no difference in term of wrap failure between neurologically impaired and normal children.
To evaluate the complications associated with the image-guided insertion of gastrostomy (G) and gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tubes in children, performed by the retrograde percutaneous route.
A convenience sample of 208 charts of 840 patients recorded as having G and/or GJ tubes placed by the interventional radiology service in a 4-year period (1995-1999) at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, were selected for review. Complications were categorized as major (including subcutaneous abscess, peritonitis, septicemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and death) or minor.
In total, 253 tubes (208 G tubes, 41 GJ tubes, 4 G and GJ tubes) were placed in the 208 patients reviewed. The median age at the time of insertion was 15 months (range: 7 days-18 years). The most common diagnostic category was neurologic disease (47%). The main indications for tube insertion were recorded as failure to thrive (57%) and risk of aspiration (47%). Major complications were seen in 5% of patients. Peritonitis was noted in 3%, and there was 1 death related to tube insertion (0.4%). Minor complications were found in 73% of patients, including tube dislodgement (37%), tube leakage (25%), and G-tube site skin infection (25%). GJ tubes had a higher rate than G tubes of obstruction, migration, dislodgement, leakage, and intussusception. Site infection, gastroesophageal reflux, and bleeding from the site were seen less frequently in patients with GJ tubes compared with G tubes.
G and GJ tubes placed by the image-guided retrograde percutaneous method are associated with a wide range of complications. The majority of these are minor and are predominantly related to tube maintenance, but major complications, including death, do occur.
The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become a frequently performed procedure in infants and children who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this study we describe our 8-year experience with 106 consecutive laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications.
From January 1994 to May 2002, we included 106 consecutive patients (57 neurologically normal (NN) and 49 neurologically impaired (NI)). The indications were symptomatic GERD, pulmonary symptoms or a combination of both. Patient's outcome was assessed by symptom evaluation, technical examinations and a questionnaire.
Mortality was 0% and conversion rate was 2.8%. Major postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients, mostly neurologically impairment. Dysphagia occurred in 23 patients of which 4 required dilatations and 2 a redo Nissen. Gas bloating occurred in 15 children, with spontaneous regression in all. Recurrent pneumopathies were seen in four children. Documented recurrence of reflux occurred in three symptomatic patients. Redo laparoscopic surgery was performed in six patients. A questionnaire was sent to each patient's parents. This showed that most patients had a normal or clearly improved quality of life (93.1% NN, 90.5% NI). Most patients were satisfied with the result and up to 39.5% gave a maximum satisfaction score.
The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can safely be performed with a low conversion rate and no surgical mortality in neurologically normal and neurologically impaired children. Neurologically impaired children are more susceptible to per- and postoperative complications. A good quality of life and a high index of satisfaction could be achieved in most patients.
There is conflicting information in the literature regarding the increased risk of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection after abdominal surgical procedures such as gastrostomy tube (GT) placement and Nissen fundoplication (NF) in the young patient. To further elucidate this potential association, the authors reviewed their institutional experience with such cases.
The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with shunted hydrocephalus who also underwent NF procedures and/or GT placements over a 9-year period.
During this 9-year period, 3065 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts were placed and 1630 NF procedures/GT placements were performed. Ninety-six patients were identified who received both a CSF shunt and NF procedures/GT placements. Seventy-nine patients had a functioning VP shunt (without recent [< 6 months] CSF infection or shunt revision) at the time of their abdominal procedure (NF procedure or GT placement). Of this latter cohort, there were 38 males and 41 females with a mean age of 6.4 months; 12.7% of these patients developed a shunt infection and 60% of these infections were due to Staphylococcus species.
Based on this study, an NF procedure/GT placement in a child with a VP shunt appears to carry approximately the same risk of shunt infection as a shunt placement operation. Moreover, the microbiology observed in these patients with infection did not differ significantly from the usual microorganisms responsible for VP shunt infections in infants/neonates. Finally, but not conclusively, an open NF procedure/GT placement may carry a higher infection risk than a laparoscopic-assisted NF procedure/GT placement.
Address correspondence to: Rainer Kubiak, MD Department of Paediatric Surgery Mannheim Medical School (UMM) Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3 D-68167 Mannheim Germany E-mail: rainerkubiak@hotmail
- V-P Laparoscopic Fundoplication In Children With
- Shunts
Address correspondence to: Rainer Kubiak, MD Department of Paediatric Surgery Mannheim Medical School (UMM) Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3 D-68167 Mannheim Germany E-mail: rainerkubiak@hotmail.com LAPAROSCOPIC FUNDOPLICATION IN CHILDREN WITH V-P SHUNTS