• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2008

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.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 2006

Antireflux surgery has been indicated in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does not respond to medical treatments. Although the most commonly performed operation is Nissen fundoplication, Belsey Mark IV fundoplication is indicated for more complicated cases, such as, in cases of a failed Nissen operation or a long lasting hiatal hernia. Here, we report a case of Belsey Mark IV fundoplication for a failed Nissen fundoplication. The infant developed frequent times of aspiration pneumonia after initial Nissen for a hiatal hernia with GERD during the newborn period. At 15 months of age, a $2^{nd}$ Nissen operation was attempted, but fundoplication was not available because of excessive mesenteric adherence to the liver and cardia. Therefore, Belsey Mark IV fundoplication was performed via trans-thoracic approach, which can provide full esophageal mobilization and better visualization of the herniated fundus and the surrounding tissues. Subsequently, she has shown an improved general condition without GERD.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2012

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 compare laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) and open Nissen fundoplication (ONF) for GERD in children. We studied retrospectively the 88 pediatric patients who underwent the Nissen fundoplication for GERD as primary antireflux surgery from 1994 and 2009. ONF was performed in 34 cases and LNF was in 54 cases. 58 patients have neurologic impairment. Time to initial food intake after the surgery were reduced in the LNF group (p= 0.032). Recurrent GERD symptom occurred in one patient in LNF group and four patients in ONF group within 1 year after the surgery (p= 0.012). There were no statistically significant differences in post operative morbidity and mortality between both groups. In conclusion, our practice of Nissen fundoplication indicates that LNF takes priority in most pediatric patients.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2007

Fundoplication is accepted as an effective treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The recent results of laparoscopic fundoplication demonstrated safety and less morbidity, shorter hospital stay and less pulmonary complication compared to the open operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been our first choice of operation for gastroesophageal reflux disease since 2003. Among 29 cases, there were 2 conversion cases because of severe distension of transverse colon and hepatomegaly. We studied 27 consecutive patients operated upon from January 2003 through December 2004. There were 15 boys and 12 girls, ages from 1.5 months to 12 years (median 25.3 months). Body weight ranged from 2.9 kg to 37 kg (median 9.8 kg). Neurological abnormalities were present in 23 patients. Indications for surgery included medically refractory reflux associated with vomiting, pneumopathy, otorhinolaryngologic pathology, failure to thrive, esophagitis, apnea and bradycardia. We used 4-5 trocars of 5 mm or 12 mm with $30^{\circ}$ telescope and performed the Nissen technique in all patients. In neurological impaired patients, gastrostomy tube was placed at the time of fundoplication. Median operative time was 130 minutes (70 - 300 minutes). There was no mortality nor intraoperative complication. Twenty-six patients were followed for median of 19 months (8 - 31 months). Four patients (15.4 %), who were all neurological impaired, developed recurrent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Two of these patients had reoperation (1 laparoscopic approach, 1 open method). There were significant increases in body weight in 11 patients after fundoplication. Laparoscopic fundoplication is acceptable as a safe and effective method for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2013

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a recurrent, long-term gastrointestinal condition characterised by the abnormal reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Heartburn is the most dominant symptom, which can be life long and can considerably reduce quality of life. The main goals of treatment are to alleviate symptoms and prevent relapses, esophageal stricture and adenocarcinoma. This paper presents a review comparing the effectiveness of omeprazole with Nissen fundoplication surgery for the treatment of GERD. Nissen fundoplication is more effective in controlling heartburn symptoms, healing esophagitis and preventing relapses than omeprazole. Quality of life, in terms of productivity and ability to work, is difficult to assess in the omeprazole group and, as a result, a comparison of this aspect is limited. Although fundoplication is expensive in the short term, it is more cost-effective than omeprazole. Nurses need to be aware of the effectiveness of omeprazole and fundoplication to provide patients with accurate information, which assists patients in decision making regarding treatment options.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2014

Purpose: Gastroesophageal reflux in infant is a physiological process. However, surgery is performed in high risk infants with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when medical management fails. This study focuses on efficacy and safety of Nissen fundoplication for GERD in infants under age 12 months. Methods: This study was a retrospective case analysis of 11 neonates and infants under 12 months of age who underwent Nissen fundoplication following a failure of medical treatment between June 2010 and June 2013 at Pusan National University Children's Hospital. The records were reviewed to determine the effect of fundoplication on symptoms and post-operative complications. Results: A total of 11 infants consist of four males and seven females. Mean birth weight was $2,305.5{\pm}558.6g$ (1,390-3,130 g). They had some underlying disease, which are not related with GERD such as congenital heart disease (54.5%), prematurity (45.5%), neurologic disease (18.2%), respiratory disease (18.2%), and other gastrointestinal disease. Mean body weight at surgery was $3,803.6{\pm}1,864.9g$ (1,938.7-5,668.5 g). Mean age at operation was $99.9{\pm}107.6days$ (17-276 days). Duration from operation to full enteral feeding was 10.9 days. Symptoms related GERD disappeared in all patients including one who got reoperation. One infant died of congenital heart disease unrelated to surgery. There were no complications related to fundoplication. Conclusion: Fundoplication is effective and safe treatment in the neonates and infants with severe GERD.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 2012

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) commonly occurs after Nissen fundoplication in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Since the understanding of its pathogenesis is insufficient, an effective method of management has not yet been suggested. The authors report a case of a 16-year-old girl with DGE after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and treated with intravenous injection of low dose erythromycin.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2000

Eleven children with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent fundoplication. Eight had neurological impairment, two had hiatal hernias and one had a history of esophageal repair for esophageal atresia. The most common and significant symptom was vomiting(81.8 %), followed by recurrent respiratory infections(72.7 %) and failure to thrive(72.7 %). The most common diagnostic tool was 24 hour esophageal pH study, which showed pH less than 4 for more than 10 % of the total recorded time in 6 of 9 patients. Nissen fundoplication was performed in 10 patients. Thal fundoplication was carried out in one patient with esophageal atresia. Stamm gastrostomy was added for nutritional and/or swallowing problem in all 8 patients with neurological impairment. The median follow up period was 13 months. There was one late death of unrelated cause and one recurrence. The quality of life after antireflux surgery was greatly improved. Antireflux surgery should be done if indicated, and a simultaneous gastrostomy considered in a patient with neurological impairment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.313-327
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• 2018

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing in Korea, and physicians, including surgeons, have been focusing on its treatment. Indeed, in Korea, medical treatment using a proton pump inhibitor is the mainstream treatment for GERD, while awareness of surgical treatment is limited. Accordingly, to promote the understanding of surgical treatment for GERD, the Korean Anti-Reflux Surgery Study Group published the Evidence-Based Practice Guideline for the Surgical Treatment of GERD. The guideline consists of 2 sections: fundamental information such as the definition, symptoms, and diagnostic tools of GERD and a recommendation statement about its surgical treatment. The recommendations presented 5 debates regarding fundoplication: 1) comparison of the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatments, 2) effectiveness of surgical treatment in cases of refractory GERD, 3) effectiveness of surgical treatment of extraesophageal symptoms, 4) comparison of effectiveness between total and partial fundoplication, and 5) effectiveness of fundoplication in cases of hiatal hernia. The present guideline is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of the surgical treatment GERD in Korea.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2015

The surgical indications for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with esophageal motility disorders have been debated. We report a case of antireflux surgery performed in a patient with absent esophageal motility as categorized by the Chicago classification (2011). A 54-year-old man underwent laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication due to apparent GERD and desire to discontinue all medications. After surgery, his subjective symptoms improved. Furthermore, objective findings including manometry and 24-hour pH-metry also improved. In our experience, antireflux surgery can improve GERD symptoms patients, even with absent esophageal motility.