Laparoscopic fundoplication in children - An audit of fifty cases

Critical evaluation of new laparoscopic procedures in childhood are essenti al. The aim of:this study was to audit fifty laparoscopic fundoplications i n children. Method: Evaluation of the financial implications, hospital stay, analgesia requirements, operative morbidity and symptom control was undertaken. Results: 50 laparoscopic fundoplications were performed on children (6 mont hs to 13 years) with a median follow-up period of 31.8 months. The conversi on rate to an open procedure was 8%. The median length of opiate requiremen t for opiate analgesia was 1 day (range 1-5), post-operative stay 2 days (r ange 2-15). The operative morbidity was 8% (respiratory infection, pneumoth orax, two patients, oesophageal perforation one patient). The recurrences r ate was 6%. Whilst a prospective randomised trial is essential to satisfy t he requirements of evidence-based medicine, the results of our review of la paroscopic fundoplication are encouraging.