Unusual presentation of hemoptysis in a 78-year-old with previous Nissen fundoplication

A 78-year-old individual, who had a previous transthoracic Nissen fundoplication 20 years earlier, presented to our institution with hemoptysis. Initial workup included chest roentgenogram, upper gastrointestinal series, and upper endoscopy, all of which were nondiagnostic. A repeat upper endoscopy diagnosed a gastrobronchial fistula by revealing a large gastric ulcer that penetrated into the lung parenchyma. The patient underwent surgery for takedown of the fistula. One of the most common symptoms associated with gastrobronchial fistula is hemoptysis, although insidious cough, recurrent pneumonia, or gastrointestinal bleeding are also observed. The most useful diagnostic study is an upper gastrointestinal series, which must be read with a high index of suspicion. Gastrobronchial fistula is most commonly a long-term complication from hiatal hernia repair. The most frequently used procedure for repair of this disorder is the Nissen fundoplication. This can be done from either an abdominal or transthoracic approach. When the procedure is done such that the gastric wrap is left above the diaphragm, serious complications can occur. These include gastric ulceration, gastric herniation with gastric outlet obstruction, slippage or perforation of the wrap, and gastrobronchial fistula. Because of these serious complications, the Nissen fundoplication with the wrap left above the diaphragm should only be used in certain situations, such as obesity and shortened esophagus.     

Outcome of open antireflux surgery as assessed in a Nordic multicentre prospective clinical trial. Nordic GORD-Study Group

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of antireflux surgery in various hospitals in Scandinavian countries. DESIGN: Partly randomised controlled study, and partly open study. SETTING: Hospitals throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. SUBJECTS: 310 patients with chronic reflux disease and oesophagitis who were initially entered into a randomised controlled study of omeprazole and antireflux surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Total fundic wrap, partial fundoplication, or omeprazole. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Control of symptoms at one year. RESULTS: 154 patients who had their symptoms of reflux completely controlled with omeprazole were initially randomised to have an open operation but 10 refused, leaving 144 for analysis. 34 patients who had only a partial response were also offered operation; 120/178 (68%) had a total fundic wrap, and 53 (30%) partial fundoplication. 6 patients had postoperative complications that required reoperation and 123 made a completely uneventful recovery. Reflux was controlled in most patients, and only 10 (6%) required further treatment with omeprazole. The outcome in those patients who only responded partially to omeprazole was similar to that in patients who had a complete response. CONCLUSION: The outcome of antireflux surgery throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland is good.     

Prosthetic reinforcement of posterior cruroplasty during laparoscopic hiatal herniorrhaphy

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux after Nissen fundoplication may occur if the wrap herniates into the thorax. In an attempt to prevent recurrent hiatal hernia we employed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mesh reinforcement of posterior cruroplasty during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and hiatal herniorrhaphy. Three patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and a large (>==8 cm) hiatal defect underwent laparoscopic posterior cruroplasty and Nissen fundoplication. The cruroplasty was reinforced with a PTFE onlay. No perioperative complications occurred, and in follow-up (<==11 months) the patients are doing well. When repairing a large defect of the esophageal hiatus during fundoplication, the surgeon may consider reinforcement of the repair with PTFE mesh.     

Outcome of Nissen fundoplication using intraoperative manometry in children

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative manometry is useful in performing Nissen fundoplication (NF) in children. Long-term clinical outcome information after use of this method is lacking. METHODS: A retrospective review of the outcomes of 62 consecutive NFs using intraoperative manometry was performed. The follow-up period was 3.4 years. Approximately half of the patients were neurologically normal (NN) and half were neurologically impaired (NI). All patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) did not respond to an adequate trial of medical treatment. RESULTS: The NF was tailored to result in a twofold increase in the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and a 75% increase in the LES length (LESL). An accelerated growth rate in 40% of "failure to thrive" (FTT) patients was demonstrated. Eighty-four percent of caregivers reported improved quality of life after NF. There was a twofold reduction in the number of hospital admissions and a sixfold reduction in total inpatient days for both NI and NN children. The early and late mortality rate was 13%, and the complication rate was similar to other series reported in the literature, with more complications occurring in NI patients. There was a 2% incidence of wrap herniation. An improvement in long-term outcomes after NF was seen in 89% of NN children and over half of NI patients. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative manometry is useful in standardizing the tightness of the wrap in NF. There was a low incidence of complications, dysphagia, recurrent emesis, and GERD in this series. Long-term outcomes using this technique were deemed very good based on caregivers' responses.     

Nissen fundoplication for reflux esophagitis. Long-term clinical and endoscopic results in 109 of 127 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the clinical and endoscopic long-term results of Nissen fundoplication in reflux esophagitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Nissen fundoplication has been reported to give good results in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux with success rates up to 78-97%. Most of the previous studies on long-term results of fundoplication have, however, been based on interviews with only sporadic endoscopic examinations. METHODS: Of 127 patients consecutively treated with Nissen fundoplication for reflux esophagitis, 109 were available for follow-up after a median of 77 months. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done in 105 cases, and all the patients with reflux symptoms or abnormal endoscopic observations were referred to esophageal 24-hour pH monitoring and manometry. RESULTS: No symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux were reported by 73 of the 109 patients, but dysphagia was present in 47. Endoscopy showed defective fundic wrap in 24 patients. Objective evidence of reflux was found in 24 patients (endoscopic esophagitis in 18 and pathologic 24-hour pH score without esophagitis in 6). Esophagitis was found in 14 of the 24 patients with defective wrap, but in only 4 of the 81 with infact wrap. CONCLUSIONS: Nissen fundoplication alleviated symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and cured esophagitis in great majority of cases. The main determinant of outcome was the state of the fundic wrap.     

Localization of human midisatellite and macrosatellite DNA sequences on chromosomes 1 and X in the great apes

We report the case of a 38-year-old man who, 2 weeks after a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, was referred to our Unit because of acute wrap herniation and intrathoracic gastric perforation. Although both of these complications have already been described, this is the first case in which they have occurred simultaneously and not as an immediate consequence of the operation. Intraoperative findings suggested that diaphragmatic crura had not been reapproximated and that the gastric wrap had not been fixed to them. This observation and the fact that immediately after hospital discharge the patient had sustained intense physical efforts can explain acute wrap herniation. Placement of full-thickness sutures may account for gastric perforation. These pathogenetic determinants and their preventive measures are discussed in the light of a review of the literature.     

Recent advances in antireflux surgery for gastroesophageal reflux diseases--from open surgery to laparoscopic surgery

Gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) are common in the western countries and have been well studied about diagnosis and treatment. Nissen technique (a complete wrap) and Toupet technique (a partial wrap) are usually transabdominal fundoplication. Hill technique is a transabdominal posterior gastropexy. Allison technique is a transthoracic reduction method of the herniated cardia back into the abdomen, but is not frequently employed today. Belsey Mark VI technique is a transthroacic anterior plication. Collis gastroplasty is an esophageal lenghening technique and is used with standard repairs (Nissen, Belsey, and Hill). Good result rate of above mentioned surgery are about 90%. Recently, laparoscopic Nissen/Toupet technique are a standard antireflex surgery because of minimal invasiveness and more than 90% of good results. After introducing laparoscopic surgery the indication of antireflex surgery for GERD can be changed because of quality of life of patients and medicoeconomical reasons.     

Long-term results after reoperation for failed antireflux procedures

From January 1960 to June 1995, 185 patients underwent reoperation without esophageal resection for symptoms of recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease. There were 102 men and 83 women. Median age was 58 years (range 20 to 84 years). A single previous antireflux operation had been performed in 147 patients, two in 33, and three in 5. The median interval between the reoperation and the previous operation was 36 months (range 1 to 291 months). Indications for reoperation were symptoms in 184 patients and a large paraesophageal hernia in one patients. The surgical approach was by means of a thoracotomy in 133 patients (71.9%), laparotomy in 27 (14.6%), and a thoracoabdominal incision in 25 (13.5%). A Nissen fundoplication was performed in 107 patients (57.8%), Belsey fundoplication in 47 (25.4%), truncal vagotomy and antrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction in 17 (9.2%), anatomic hernia repair in 12 (6.5%), and Hill gastropexy in 2 (1.1%). A Collis gastroplasty was added to the fundoplication in 116 patients (62.7%), and a pyloroplasty was performed in 17 (9.2%). There was one operative death (0.5%). Complications occurred in 47 patients (25.4%). Median postoperative hospitalization was 9 days (range 5 to 58 days). Follow-up was complete in 156 patients (84.3%) and ranged from 3 to 283 months (median 44 months). Improvement occurred in 137 patients (87.8%). Functional results were classified as excellent in 65 patients (41.6%), good in 29 (18.6%), fair in 43 (27.6%), and poor in 19 (12.2%). No single operative approach or procedure proved to be functionally superior. We conclude that reoperation with esophageal preservation after a failed antireflux procedure will result in significant functional benefit and can be performed with low mortality and acceptable morbidity. The type of repair should be tailored to the individual patient.     

Study of adenovirus production in serum-free 293SF suspension culture by GFP-expression monitoring

BACKGROUND: Recently, investigators have reported the use of endoscopic myotomy in the treatment of esophageal achalasia. As with the open operation, considerable disagreement exists regarding the appropriate length of the myotomy and the need for a concomitant antireflux procedure. METHODS: Patients presenting with symptomatic achalasia between 1993 and 1997 were included in this prospective study. Preoperative studies included barium upper gastrointestinal study, endoscopy, and esophageal manometry. Laparoscopic myotomy was completed in all 20 patients; 18 had concomitant Toupet fundoplication. RESULTS: Operative times ranged from 95 to 345 minutes (mean 216). Blood loss ranged from 50 to 300 cc (mean 100 cc). There were 7 minor complications (5 mucosal injuries repaired laparoscopically, 1 bile leak and 1 splenic capsular tear). Nine patients began a liquid diet on the first day postoperatively; 19 were tolerating liquids by postoperative day 3. Hospital stay ranged from 2 to 20 days (mean 5). Eighteen patients had complete relief of dysphagia, with less than one reflux episode per month. One individual continues to have mild persistent solid food dysphagia. Another patient initially did well but subsequently developed mild recurrent dysphagia and reflux. One patient required laparoscopic take-down of the wrap because of recurrent dysphagia and now has no problems swallowing, but does complain of mild reflux. Two other patients also have mild reflux, 1 of whom did not undergo fundoplication. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy can be performed safely with excellent results in patients with achalasia. Adding a partial fundoplication appears to help control postoperative symptoms of reflux. This procedure should be considered the procedure of choice in patients with symptomatic esophageal achalasia.     

Complications of laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair

The complications of laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair at two institutions were reviewed to determine the rate and type of complications. A total of 76 patients underwent laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair between December 1992 and April 1996. Seventy-one of them had fundoplication (6 required a Collis-Nissen procedure). Five patients underwent hernia reduction and gastropexy only. There was one conversion to laparotomy. Traumatic visceral injury occurred in eight patients (11%) (gastric lacerations in 3, esophageal lacerations in 2, and bougie dilator perforations in 3). All lacerations were repaired intraoperatively except for one that was not recognized until postoperative day 2. Vagus nerve injuries occurred in at least three patients. Three delayed perforations occurred in the postoperative period (4%) (2 gastric and 1 esophageal). Two patients had pulmonary complications, two had gastroparesis, and one had fever of unknown origin. Seven patients required reoperation for gastroparesis (n = 2), dysphagia after mesh hiatal closure of the hiatus (n = 1), or recurrent herniation (n = 4). There were two deaths (3%): one from septic complications and one from myocardial infarction. Paraesophageal hernia repair took significantly longer (3.7 hours) than standard fundoplication (2.5 hours) in a concurrent series (P <0.05). Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is feasible but challenging. The overall complication rate, although significant, is lower than that for nonsurgically managed paraesophageal hernia.     

Systemic clotting activation by low-grade endotoxaemia in liver cirrhosis: a potential role for endothelial procoagulant activation

Laparoscopic fundoplication is technically feasible in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although medication is the primary treatment for GERD, not all patients respond completely or are able to adhere to a medical regimen. In the present series, 59 patients were laparoscopically treated for GERD at three centers using a standardized technique. All patients had been medically treated prior to referral, although 84 per cent had heartburn and 2 per cent had laryngitis despite 20 to 40 mg/day of omeprazole. Fifteen per cent of patients were intolerant of or would no longer take omeprazole. Patients were evaluated by esophageal manometry (in 100%) and 24-hour pH studies (in 66%). Seventy-six per cent of patients had lower-esophageal sphincter pressure <15 mm Hg. Five patients had low esophageal body peristaltic pressures (<35 mm Hg). These patients underwent Toupet partial fundoplication, whereas 54 patients underwent Nissen fundoplication. Mean operative time was 158 +/- 7 minutes, and three patients (5%) were converted to an open procedure. Operative complications were minor and occurred in 13 per cent. In 45 patients evaluated 1 year after surgery, heartburn had resolved in 98 per cent. Thirty-nine of 56 patients (70%) had mild early (<1 month postoperatively) dysphagia, and 9 (19%) had severe early dysphagia, which improved in 7 after nonoperative dilatation. Two of these had continued mild dysphagia. Two patients had severe dysphagia and were laparoscopically converted from Nissen to Toupet fundoplications, which resulted in marked improvement. Early gas bloat symptoms occurred in 45 per cent and dropped to 5 per cent at 1 year. Laparoscopic treatment of GERD is safe and effective in preventing reflux symptoms. Although mild dysphagia occurs after the procedure, this is transient in most patients. Patients with severe dysphagia can be treated with nonoperative dilatation or laparoscopic partial fundoplication and maintain the antireflux characteristics of the wrap.     

Serum S-100 protein: a potentially useful prognostic marker in cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND: A 360 degrees or Nissen fundoplication remains controversial in patients with disordered peristalsis, some surgeons preferring a partial wrap to minimise postoperative dysphagia. AIM: To evaluate symptoms and manometric outcome in patients with disordered peristalsis after Nissen fundoplication. PATIENTS: In an initial series of 345 patients studied prospectively, 31 patients who had undergone a Nissen fundoplication had disordered peristalsis. Using preoperative manometry, patients were classified as: equivocal primary peristalsis (eight patients); abnormal primary peristalsis (four patients); abnormal maximal contraction pressure (13 patients); abnormal primary peristalsis and maximal contraction pressure (six patients). METHODS: Postoperatively, patients underwent a barium meal, oesophageal manometry and standardised clinical review by a blinded scientific officer. RESULTS: Twenty eight (90%) patients had satisfaction scores of at least 8 out of a maximum of 10 and all would undergo surgery again. Whereas 15 (48%) patients had dysphagia scores greater than 4/10 preoperatively, only two (6%) had these scores at one year. Improved peristalsis was seen in 78% of postoperative manometric studies, and mean preoperative lower oesophageal sphincter pressure increased from 6.6 (range 0-21) mm Hg to 19 (4-50) mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: These results are similar to the overall group of 345 patients and suggest that disordered peristalsis, and possibly even absent peristalsis, is not a contraindication to Nissen fundoplication as performed in these patients.     

Examination of contact lens surfaces by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

BACKGROUND: Reduction of acid secretion is an important aspect of medical treatment of reflux esophagitis. Truncal vagotomy and drainage procedures used in conjunction with antireflux procedures to reduce acid secretion in patients with gastroesophageal reflux were unsatisfactory. This study reviews the results of parietal cell vagotomy used in conjunction with a 360-degree fundoplication to determine if reduction of acid by this form of vagotomy was beneficial to patients with gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS: Between March 1973 and May 1993, 94 private and 64 Veterans Administration patients underwent parietal cell vagotomy and Nissen type fundoplication for esophageal reflux. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), gastric analysis, cine-esophagogram, and 24-hour esophageal pH and motility studies were performed preoperatively on VA patients. Private patients underwent EGD, cine-esophagogram, and sometimes pH and motility studies. Similar studies were performed postoperatively if the patient permitted. The major technical alteration made during the study was the addition of posterior gastropexy to the operations performed between March 1978 and January 1987. Patients were considered failures if dysphagia and reflux symptoms were moderate but operation not contemplated (Visick III) or symptoms were severe and reoperation had been performed or was contemplated (Visick IV). RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. There were 25 operative failures; dysphagia contributed to failure in 4, reflux in 11, and dysphagia and reflux in 10 patients. Reoperation was required in 6 patients. There was no statistical difference in acid secretion inhibition for patients with or without postoperative reflux symptoms. The cumulative probability for operative failure was 9.3 +/- SE 4.2% for patients who underwent posterior gastropexy and 22.9 +/- SE 4.6% (P <0.02) for those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Parietal cell vagotomy with Nissen fundoplication is a safe operation. The exposure created by PCV protected the vagi from injury. The study design made it impossible to determine whether PCV improved the results of fundoplication but the failure rate was significantly (P <0.02) reduced by the addition of posterior gastropexy. This may have lessened the risk of disintegration of the wrap that might be more likely to occur after PCV.     

Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery--report of experiences in Austria]

In Austria neither the open nor the laparoscopic fundoplication can be described as a routine operation. The number of laparoscopic operations is increasing year by year, the indication for surgery is more determined by radiological than by functional diagnostic tools. In our own patients the complication rate in 196 laparoscopic operations is 6%, regarding symptoms of reflux and dysphagia. Dysphagia was found only in cases with 360 degrees fundoplication, whereas recurrent reflux occurred in 270 degrees hemifundoplications (Toupet). The mortality rate following laparoscopic fundoplications was zero, morbidity below 10%.     

Conservative management of residual and recurrent lesions after carotid endarterectomy: long-term results

PURPOSE: To document the natural history of residual and recurrent carotid stenoses that are initially treated without surgery, and to identify risk factors for recurrent stenosis. METHODS: Review of data from a prospective carotid database with clinical and duplex follow-up. Analysis of rate of restenosis and rate of late reoperation by life table. Risk factor analysis by chi 2 and LEE-DESU statistics. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-eight patients were available for follow-up, with 12 residual lesions (3.7%) and 22 recurrent lesions (6.6%). Rate of recurrent stenosis by life table analysis was 8.7% and 13% at 3 and 5 years. Restenosis was associated with smoking (p = 0.04) and contralateral progression. Only 21% of patients were underwent an operation within 5 years (p = 0.007) of restenosis developing, but eventually 10 of 22 patients required reoperation at long-term follow-up, eight for symptoms and two for progressive proximal stenoses. The late stroke rate was increased in patients who had residual or recurrent lesions compared with those who had normal duplex study results (18% vs 6%; p = 0.16) and was related to the ipsilateral artery. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent lesions that remain asymptomatic can be managed without operation with likelihood of success in the near term (5 years). However, these patients are at increased risk of late stroke, and almost half will eventually require operation. Therefore, in good-risk patients operation for asymptomatic restenosis should be considered.     

Comparison of primary and reoperative surgery in patients with Crohns disease

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the clinical results of patients with Crohns disease who require surgical resection. The outcome of patients undergoing initial surgery was compared with those having reoperation. METHODS: One hundred sixty-four patients undergoing intestinal resection for Crohns disease at The Mount Sinai Hospital from 1976 to 1989 were studied prospectively. The mean duration of follow-up was 72 months. RESULTS: Ninety patients (55%) underwent initial intestinal resection whereas 74 patients (45%) underwent reoperation for recurrent disease. Patients undergoing reoperation were older (33.4 vs. 38.7 years), had longer durations of disease (8.7 vs. 15.2 years), had shorter resections (60 vs. 46 cm), and were more likely to require ileostomy. Forty-seven percent of the patients with multiple previous resections required an ileostomy. This group also received a mean of 2.3 U blood in the perioperative period and showed a trend to increased symptomatic recurrence (49% vs. 71% at 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Crohns disease undergoing first and second reoperation have outcomes similar to those in patients undergoing primary resection. Patients requiring multiple reoperations are more likely to require blood transfusions and permanent ileostomy and to show a greater trend to early symptomatic recurrence.     

Evaluation of the antireflux mechanism following laparoscopic fundoplication

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is an effective procedure for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), but the underlying motility mechanisms that explain the success of this operation remain unclear. METHODS: Twenty patients with a history of GORD underwent stationary oesophageal manometry and prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring, both before and 3 months after fundoplication. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were completely cured of reflux symptoms and stopped all antireflux medication after operation. After fundoplication there was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in median resting lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) pressure and length. Median residual LOS pressure during swallow-induced LOS relaxation also increased significantly after operation (P < 0.01). The number of reflux episodes decreased from a median of 48 to 3 after fundoplication (P < 0.01). The time at pH less than 4 decreased from 5.7 to 0 per cent in the supine position (P < 0.01), and from 9.8 to 0.2 per cent while upright (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Early subjective results at 3 months following laparoscopic antireflux surgery show improved symptoms. One of the mechanisms underlying the antireflux action of fundoplication is an increase in median residual LOS pressure at the gastro-oesophageal junction. This may be a purely mechanical effect of the fundic wrap extrinsic to the LOS.     

Reoperation for recurrent chronic visceral ischemia

PURPOSE: Recurrent visceral ischemia after a failed visceral revascularization occurs in up to one third of patients, yet no comprehensive report has described the management of this problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the presentation, surgical management, and outcome of patients with recurrent visceral ischemia. METHODS: Between 1959 and 1997, 109 patients underwent primary visceral revascularization at the University of California, San Francisco. Nineteen patients (17.4%) had recurrent visceral ischemia (12 chronic visceral ischemia, seven acute visceral ischemia). Fourteen additional patients with recurrent chronic visceral ischemia were referred after failed primary revascularization (two patients underwent multiple operations before referral). Thirty visceral reoperations were performed for recurrent visceral ischemia in 24 patients (10 patients with recurrence at University of California, San Francisco, 14 referred patients). Symptom-free and overall survival rates were determined by life table analysis. RESULTS: Of seven patients (6.4%) who had recurrent acute visceral ischemia, six (85.7%) died of bowel infarction. Twelve patients (11%) had recurrent chronic visceral ischemia. Patients with recurrent chronic visceral ischemia received their diagnoses earlier and lost less weight than at their initial presentation (p = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively). Recurrent ischemia was associated with younger age, greater weight loss, and modification of surgical technique at the time of initial operation (p = 0.5, 0.009, and 0.02, respectively). For 20 (90.9%) of the 22 first reoperations, antegrade aortovisceral bypass (n = 10) or transaortic visceral endarterectomy (n = 10) was used. Multiple techniques (four antegrade bypass, two retrograde bypass, one endarterectomy, one anastomotic revision) were used in the eight second or third reoperations. Postoperative mortality and complication rates were 6.7% and 33.3%, respectively. Symptoms recurred in six of 22 patients (27.3%) after the first reoperation, three of whom were cured or improved after additional reoperations. The life table symptom-free survival rate after reoperation was 77.3% and 62.8% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. The life table overall survival rate after reoperation was 74.6% at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent visceral ischemia is not uncommon after primary visceral revascularization. These results show that reoperation for recurrent chronic visceral ischemia can be accomplished safely and effectively with established revascularization techniques. Furthermore, after repeat visceral revascularization patients achieve durable relief of symptoms and have life expectancy rates comparable with those of patients who undergo primary visceral revascularization.     

The OIIQ sets up a Youth Committee "Generation X" springs into action

Nowadays laparoscopy shows a great development in the pediatric age group. Pediatric surgeons are now able to study the possible applications in pediatric surgery of this new and fascinating procedure. A mandatory laparoscopic training to perform any important operation is clearly essential. Only a few cases of Nissen fundoplication have been reported in children. We suggest this experimental study in which we add a technical modification by using fibrin glue to tighten the gastric wrap on the esophagus positioning only two stitches at the extremes of the suture. The results were interesting and we think it an excellent starting point for a future clinical application of this new technique.