title: Open versus laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The literature reports the efficacy of the laparoscopic approach to paraesophageal hiatal hernia repair. However, its adoption as the preferred surgical approach and the risks associated with paraesophageal hiatal hernia repair have not been reviewed in a large database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Nationwide Inpatient Sample dataset was queried from 1998 to 2005 for patients who underwent repair of a complicated (the entire stomach moves into the chest cavity) versus uncomplicated (only the upper part of the stomach protrudes into the chest) paraesophageal hiatal hernia via the laparoscopic, open abdominal, or open thoracic approach. A multivariate analysis was performed controlling for demographics and comorbidities while looking for independent risk factors for mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 23,514 patients met the inclusion criteria. By surgical approach, 55% of patients underwent open abdominal, 35% laparoscopic, and 10% open thoracic repairs. Length of stay was significantly reduced for all patients after laparoscopic repair (P < .001). Age ≥60 years and nonwhite ethnicity were associated with significantly higher odds of death. Laparoscopic repair and obesity were associated with lower odds of death in the uncomplicated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hiatal hernia is associated with a lower mortality in the uncomplicated group. However, older age and Hispanic ethnicity increased the odds of death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC 20060, USA. tfullum@howard.edu
authors.forename: Terrence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fullum
authors.forename: Tolulope A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Oyetunji
authors.forename: Gezzer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Olusola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Obayomi-Davies
authors.forename: Orighomisan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pessu
authors.forename: Stephanie R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Cornwell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome