No abstract

This study indicates that in developing countries, patients with SB who present in a delayed fashion but require shunting and have sterile CSF, should have their shunts inserted 5-10 days after SB closure.

Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is a safe and effective operation for children with MG. Robotic assistance allows for articulating instruments, three-dimensional visualization, and minimal blood loss. These factors may allow for a more complete resection compared with a standard thoracoscopic thymectomy.

Robotic fundoplication has equivalent safety profiles, hospital stay, and time to alimentation, compared to laparoscopic fundoplication, but is not indicated for routine repair due to higher cost, decreased availability, and longer procedure time. Robotic surgery does offer key advantages over standard laparoscopy by employing internally articulating arms, a stable camera platform, and three dimensional imaging. Children presenting for initial or redo fundoplication after feeding gastrostomy are a subset of patients that may benefit from the robotic approach. Minimal dissection of the phrenoesophageal ligament, in combination with four anchoring sutures from the esophagus to the crura, has been shown to lead to less wrap herniation in children. This technique is particularly difficult in standard laparoscopy without dislodgement of the gastrostomy, particularly if there are abundant adhesions or a replaced left hepatic artery to preserve. In this article, we present 15 children with neurologic impairment and previous gastrostomy who underwent Nissen fundoplication, using the da Vinci surgical robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). All patients underwent a floppy Nissen fundoplication after crural closure and placement of four anchoring stitches to the crura. Six patients (40%) had redo Nissens and 5 (33.3%) had replaced left hepatic or accessory arteries that were preserved. Seven patients underwent repair of a hiatal hernia and 2 had biologic mesh placed. There were no conversions to open or intraoperative complications. One child had a revision of the gastrostomy site, because the prior percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy had been placed through the transverse mesocolon. There were only a few minor postoperative complications. All children were doing well at latest follow-up (average, 32 months). The da Vinci surgical robot can be used to safely perform fundoplications in patients with gastrostomy tubes. The articulating instruments allow for the optimal placement of four crural tacking sutures, while preserving the gastrostomy, even in the presence of a replaced left hepatic artery.