Current Thoughts About Laparoscopic Fundoplication in Infants and Children George W. Holcomb, III, M.D., MBA Surgeon-in-Chief Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Missouri

Gastroesophageal Reflux GER – presence of gastroesophageal reflux GERD – symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux Wt loss/FTT ALTE Pulmonary Sxs., RAD Esophagitis: pain, stricture, Barrett’s

GERD Barriers to Mucosal Injury LES Esophageal IAL Angle of His Esophageal motility

Barriers to Injury 1.LES Thickened muscle layer, distal esophagus Imperfect valve, creates pressure gradient Held in abdomen by phrenoesophageal membrane Efficacy against GER proportional to:  Length  Pressure LES relaxes normally with esophageal peristalsis Inappropriate LES relaxations – Transient LES Relaxations (TLESR)

Transient LES Relaxations LES relaxation not related to swallowing Thought to be the primary mechanism for GERD in children Werlin SL, et al: J Peds 97: , 1980

Barriers to Injury 2. IAL Esophagus Adults -> 3 cm, 100% LES competency - 3 cm, 64% - <1 cm, 20% Important to mobilize intraabdominal esophagus and secure it into abdomen *DeMeester, et al: Am J Surg 137: 39-46, 1979

Barriers to Injury Normally, an acute angle When obtuse, more prone to GER Important consideration following gastrostomy 3. Angle of His

Barriers to Injury 4.Esophageal Motility motility, impaired clearance of gastric refluxate, mucosal injury

GERD SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

What Do We Know Now That We Did Not Know in 2000?

Preoperative Evaluation 24 hr pH study – gold standard in many centers Impedance – acid & alkaline reflux Upper GI contrast study -reflux seen in 30% Endoscopy - visualization only not sensitive Endoscopy with biopsy – probably most sensitive Gastric emptying study ? Esophageal motility study - not needed in children?

Children’s Mercy Hospital Jan 2000 – June fundoplications ( 3.6% op. vol.) UGI – 656 pts pH study – 379 pts Sensitivity UGI – 30.8% AAP, 2009 J Pediatr Surg 4: , 2010

Children’s Mercy Hospital UGI – 656 pts Abnormality (other than GER) – 30 pts (4.5%) Suspected malrotation – 26 pts (4.0%) Confirmed (16 pts)No malrotation (6 pts)Prev. Ladd (4 pts) AAP, 2009 J Pediatr Surg 4: , 2010

Children’s Mercy Hospital UGI – 656 pts Influences management - 4% Malrotation is the most common finding AAP, 2009 J Pediatr Surg 4: , 2010

Preoperative Evaluation Gastric Emptying Study ?

GERD Fundoplication Indications for operation  Failure of medical therapy  ALTE/weight loss in infants  Refractory pulmonary symptoms  Neurologically impaired child who needs gastrostomy

Options for Fundoplication Laparoscopic vs open Complete (Nissen) vs Partial (Thal, Boix-Ochoa, Toupet)

ISSUES/QUESTIONS

1)Effects of Pneumoperitoneum SVR PVR SV CI Venous Return (Head up) pCO 2 FRC pH pO 2

Proceed With Caution  VSD with reactive pulmonary HTN  CAVC – ( PVR 2 o to pCO 2, pO 2, pH)  Neonates (in general) with reactive or persistent P- HTN  Palliated defects with passive pulmonary blood flow (Glenn, Fontan procedures) – Risk is pulmonary flow, reversal of flow thru shunt and clotting of shunt  Any defect adversely affected by SVR HLHS CHF (unrepaired septal defects: VSD, CAVC) Risk is acute CHF 2 o to afterload & shunting, unbalancing the defect

Laparoscopic Fundoplication 2.Is dysphagia a common problem following laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in infants and children?

Intraoperative Bougie Sizes PAPS, 2002 JPS 37: , 2002

Laparoscopic Fundoplication 3. Can stab (3mm) incisions be used rather than cannulas for laparoscopic operations and is there a financial advantage?

Laparoscopic Fundoplication

The Use of Stab Incisions PAPS, 2003 JPS 38: , 2003

Cost Savings from Stab Incisions PAPS, 2003 JPS 38: , 2003

Laparoscopic Fundoplication 4. Is there a financial advantage with the laparoscopic approach when compared to the open operation?

Clinical and Financial Analysis of Pediatric Laparoscopic versus Open Fundoplication 100 Patients Favoring LFP ValueFavoring OFP Value LOS (1.2 vs 2.9 days)<0.01Op Time (77 vs 91 min)0.03 Initial Feeds (7.3 vs 27.9 hrs) Full Feeds (21.8 vs 42.9 hrs) <0.01 Hospital Room ($1290 vs $2847) Pharmacy ($180 vs $461) Equipment ($1006 vs $1609) Anesthesia ($389 vs $475) Operating Suite ($4058 vs $5142) Central Supply/Sterilization ($1367 vs $2515) <0.001 Total Charges Similar (LF - $11,449 OF - $11,632) IPEG 2006 J Lap Endosc Surg Tech 17: ,2007

Laparoscopic Fundoplication 5. Should the esophagus be extensively mobilized in laparoscopic fundoplication? Please use this link if you experience problems viewing the video above.this link

Current Thoughts Technique Less mobilization of esophagus 2.Keep peritoneal barrier b/w esophagus & crura

Current Thoughts 3.Secure esophagus to crura at 8, 11, 1 and 4 o’clock

Laparoscopic Fundoplication Current Technique Please use this link if you experience problems viewing the video above.this link

Why The Change in Technique?

Personal Series - CMH Jan 2000 – March Pts No Esophagus – Crural Sutures Extensive Esophageal Mobilization Mean age/weight 21 mo/10 kg Mean operative time93 minutes Transmigration wrap15 (12%) Postoperative dilation0 APSA, 2006 J Pediatr Surg 42:25-30, 2007

Personal Series - CMH April 2002 – December Pts Esophagus – Crural Sutures Minimal Esophageal Mobilization Mean age/weight 27 mo/11 kg Mean operative time102 minutes Transmigration wrap6 (5%) Postoperative dilation1 APSA 2006 J Pediatr Surg 42:25-30, 2007

The relative risk of wrap transmigration in patients without esophago-crural sutures and with extensive esophageal mobilization was 2.29 times the risk if these sutures were utilized and if minimal esophageal dissection was performed.

Patients Less Than 24 Months Group I Jan 00-March Pts Group II April 02-Dec Pts P Value Mean Age (mos) Mean Wt (kg) Gastrostomy46% Neuro Impairment 73%60%0.069 Wrap Transmigration 13 (12%)6 (6%).226 The relative risk of transmigration of the wrap is 1.94 times greater for Group I than for Group II APSA 2006 J Pediatr Surg 42:25-30, 2007

Prospective, Randomized Trial 2 Institutions: CMH, CH-Alabama Power analysis using retrospective data (12% vs 5%) : 360 patients Primary endpoint-transmigration rate 2 groups: minimal vs. extensive esophageal dissection Both groups received esophago-crural sutures Stratified for neurological status UGI contrast study one year post-op APSA, 2010

Minimal vs Extensive Esophageal Mobilization During Laparoscopic Fundoplication Extensive Esophageal Mobilization (N=87) Minimal Esophageal Mobilization (N=90) P-Value Age (yrs) 1.9 +/ / Weight (kg) / Neurologically Impaired (%) Operating Time (Minutes) 100 +/ / Preoperative Demographics

Minimal vs Extensive Esophageal Mobilization During Laparoscopic Fundoplication Extensive Esophageal Mobilization (N=87) Minimal Esophageal Mobilization (N=90) P- Value Postoperative Wrap Transmigration (%) 30.0%7.8%0.002 Need for Re-do Fundoplication (%) 18.4%3.3%0.006 APSA, 2010 J Pediatr Surg 46: , 2011 Results

Current Study Analysis (80% power, α ) – 110 patients Minimal esophageal dissection in all patients 4 esophago-crural sutures vs. no sutures

No Esophago-crural Sutures Please use this link if you experience problems viewing the video above.this link

Operative Results Open Operations

Re-Do Fundoplication Jan 00 – March 02 15/130 Pts – 12% April 02 – December 06 7/184 Pts – 3.8% J Pediatr Surg 42: , 2007

Re-Do Fundoplication 22 Pts (2000 – 2006) All but one had transmigration of wrap Mean age initial operation – 12.6 (±5.8) mos 11 had gastrostomy Mean time b/w initial operation & 1 st redo – 14.1 (±1.7) mos F/U – Minimum -19 mos Mean - 34 mos J Pediatr Surg 42: , 2007

Re-Do Fundoplication 21/249Pts SIS – 8:no recurrences No SIS – 13 4 recurrences (31%)

SIS and Paraesophageal Hernia Repair Multicenter, prospective randomized trial 108 patients Recurrence: 7% vs 25% (1 o repair) No mesh related complications Oelschlager BK, et al ASA Meeting, April ‘06

Postoperative Studies Nissen Fundoplication number and magnitude TLESR 1, 2 Disruption efferent vagal input to GE junction with TLESR 3 1.Ireland, et al: Gastroenterology 106: , Straathof, et al: Br J Surg 88: , Sarani, et al: Surg Endosc 17:

QUESTIONS