title: Long-term results of boerema anterior gastropexy in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the long-term results of Boerema anterior gastropexy using the Visick grading system in a university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of 247 children with severe or complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients who underwent primary gastropexy between 1990 and 2001 were divided in 3 groups: (A) neurologic impaired patients (n = 83); (B) esophageal atresia patients (n = 36); and (C) patients without underlying disease (n = 128). The median length of follow-up after gastropexy was 7 years and 8 months (range, 1.5-13 years). Follow-up was carried out using a standardized questionnaire and was obtained by telephone. Postoperative recurrence of symptoms during follow-up was considered as failure of the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative complications occurred in 20 patients (24%) in group A, in 13 patients (36%) in group B and in 23 patients (18%) in group C. Thirty-three patients died during the follow-up period, 5 of whom during the postoperative period. Six children could not be traced; thus, 208 were available for long-term follow-up. Postoperative failures occurred in 12 patients (23%) in group A, in 11 patients (31%) in group B and in 17 patients in group C (14%). Reoperation for recurrence of symptoms due to GERD was performed in 6 patients in group A, in 7 patients in group B and in 2 patients in group C. The final outcome at the time of interview was successful in 81% of group A, in 88% of group B and in 91% of group C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the long term, Boerema anterior gastropexy is an effective operation for complicated GERD in children without underlying disease as well as in neurologically impaired children and patients with esophageal atresia.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgical Centre of Amsterdam, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Center and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kloek
authors.forename: G A G
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van de Laar
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Deurloo
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
authors.forename: J A J M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taminiau
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Heij
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome