title: Laparoscopic gastrostomy as an adjunctive procedure to laparoscopic fundoplication in children.
abstract: Infants and children requiring fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux frequently have significant associated medical problems necessitating placement of a gastrostomy at the time of fundoplication. This article reviews the techniques, complications, and results of 141 laparoscopic Stamm gastrostomies performed in conjunction with laparoscopic fundoplication in infants and children. The three techniques employed were the T-fastener technique (63/141) which is best utilized in patients with thick abdominal walls; the trocar-site technique (53/141) which is technically easy to perform but prone to infection and fistula formation; and the U-stitch technique (26/141). General complications of laparoscopic gastrostomy include development of gastrocutaneous fistulae (2/141), perigastrostomy cellulitis (8/141), and the formation of granulation tissue at the gastrostomy site (45/141). The only perioperative death was due to a technical error during gastrostomy tube placement. Our preferred method for laparoscopic gastrostomy in most children is the U-stitch technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Georgeson
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Winters
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000601:surgery; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*