Laparoscopic seromuscular colonic biopsies: a surgeon's experience.
BACKGROUND
Colonic dysmotility is a recognised cause of chronic constipation in children. Colonic dysmotility is better analysed by examination of the colonic muscle than rectal biopsy, which does not examine the defective area and has a low yield. We explored the role of laparoscopic colonic muscle biopsies to investigate children with intractable constipation. The authors describe the technique, its application, and results from a large series.


METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted of all patients undergoing laparoscopic seromuscular colonic biopsies (hepatic flexure, mid-transverse colon, splenic flexure, and sigmoid colon) by a single surgeon for the investigation of chronic constipation over a 10-year period. Patient records were reviewed to determine the perforation frequency and management, postoperative recovery time and the frequency of an immunohistochemical abnormality.


RESULTS
One hundred ninety-seven patients (118 boys) were investigated by laparoscopic biopsy during the period. The mean age was 8.0 +/- 4.0 years (range, 1.4-22.4). The patients took 28.7 +/- 13.6 hours (range, 8-120) to recover, with 37 (19%) having nausea and/or vomiting requiring antiemetics. Most patients (160/197, 81%) were discharged the following day. Six patients (3%) had a mucosal perforation recognised at operation (treated by an Endoloop) with no change in postoperative outcome. Two patients (1%) had an unrecognised mucosal perforation requiring laparoscopic reoperation and Endoloop closure (laparotomy/colostomy not required), with no further sequelae. Eight-six patients (44%) had a specific immunohistochemical neuropeptide anomaly (reduced substance P [84], reduced vasoactive intestinal peptide [2]).


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic biopsy is a valuable tool to investigate chronic constipation in children, allowing a pathological diagnosis to be made in many cases. The complications of the procedure are acceptably low with this technique.
King
Sebastian K
SK
Department of General Surgery, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Sutcliffe
Jonathan R
JR
Hutson
John M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000473:pathology*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies