title: Laparoscopic fundoplication in children: anaesthetic experience of 51 cases.
abstract: We report the anaesthetic management and outcomes of our first 51 laparoscopic fundoplications. Case records of the 50 patients (one redo), median age 6 years (5 months to 20 years), were reviewed. Median duration of anaesthesia was 120 (60-300) min. During the procedure, the heart rate and blood pressure increased by more than 20% over baseline in 18% and 12% cases, respectively. Median increase in PECO2 was 1.0 (0.3-2.3) kPa [7.6 (2.3-18) mmHg]. After surgery, all but one of the patients were managed on a normal surgical ward. Postoperative analgesia requirement was oral or rectal analgesics in 89% of patients and ceased within 48 h of surgery in 95% patients. Median time to discharge home from day of operation was 2 (1-9) days. We conclude that laparoscopic fundoplication in children is well tolerated, there is no requirement for routine postoperative high dependency care and analgesic requirements are minimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Sciennes Road,Edinburgh EH9 1LF, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rowney
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Aldridge
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors