Technical standardization of laparoscopic repair of Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia in children: results of a multicentric survey on 43 patients.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2017

Identifier

DOI: 10.1007/s00464-016-5365-0

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to standardize the surgical correction technique of congenital Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia (CMDH), analyzing the results of an international multicentric survey.

Methods: The medical records of 43 patients (29 boys, 14 girls) who underwent laparoscopic repair of CMDH in 8 pediatric surgery units in a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Their average age was 3.3 years. Ten patients (23.2%) presented associated malformations: 9 Down syndrome (20.9%) and 1 palate cleft (2.3%). Thirty-five patients (81.4%) were asymptomatic, whereas 8 patients (18.6%) presented symptoms such as respiratory distress, cough or abdominal pain. As for preoperative work-up, all patients received a chest X-ray (100%), 15/43 (34.8%) a CT scan, 8/43 (18.6%) a barium enema and 4/43 (9.3%) a US.

Results: No conversion to open surgery was reported. Average operative time was 61.2 min (range 45-110 min). In 38/43 (88.3%) patients, a trans-parietal stitch was positioned in order to reduce the tension during the repair. In 14/43 cases (32.5%), the sac was resected; in only 1/43 case (2.3%) a dual mesh of goretex was adopted to reinforce the closure. Average hospital stay was 2.8 days. The average follow-up was 4.2 years, and it consisted in annual clinical controls and chest X-ray. We recorded 2 complications (4.6%): one small pleural opening that required no drain and one recurrence (2.3%), re-operated in laparoscopy, with no further recurrence.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest series published in the literature on this topic. Laparoscopic CMDH repair is well standardized: The full-thickness anterior abdominal wall repair using non-resorbable suture with interrupted stitches is the technique of choice. Postoperative outcome was excellent. Recurrence rate was very low, about 2% in our series. We believe that children with CMDH should be always treated in laparoscopy following the technical details reported in this paper.

Journal Title

Surgical endoscopy

Volume

31

Issue

8

First Page

3320

Last Page

3325

MeSH Keywords

Benchmarking; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; Humans; Infant; International Cooperation; Laparoscopy; Length of Stay; Male; Postoperative Complications; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Keywords

Laparoscopy; Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia; Surgical technique

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