Gastric fundoplication is effective in promoting weight gain in children with severe congenital heart defects

The aim of this study was to determine outcomes, including weight gain, morbidity, and mortality, of children with severe congenital heart disease who underwent fundoplication (FP) for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was conducted on all children with congenital heart disease who underwent FP from 1999 to 2005. Preoperative age, weight, cardiac procedures, postoperative weight, and mortality were extracted from medical records. The Wilcoxon signed rank, Wilcoxon rank sum, and log-rank tests were used; P value less than .05 was significant. All procedures were performed with dedicated cardiac anesthesia personnel with recovery in a cardiac intensive care unit.

Of 112 subjects identified, 37 (33%) had single ventricle (SV) physiology. The most frequent cardiac procedures performed were Norwood (33), pulmonary artery band (11), and systemic pulmonary artery shunt (11). A total of 104 laparoscopic FPs (with 2 conversions to open) and 8 open FPs were performed. The median preoperative age was 3 months, and weight percentile was 1.5%. From baseline, postoperative median weight percentiles increased to 4% at 3 months (P < .001) and to 20% at 5 years postoperatively (P = .004). Single ventricle physiology had no significant effect on outcomes. Postoperative mortality (< or =30 days) was 4.5% (5/112); 5-year survival was 74% (83/112). Five-year survival of SV subjects (59%) was significantly lower (P = .03) than that of the other subjects (81%). No significant difference in survival was seen between SV subjects with FP and all SV patients seen at our center during the study period. Only one death was directly related to antireflux surgery (SV subject). There were 8 patients who had recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease: 4 were treated with reoperation, and 4 were treated medically.

Weight gain in this high-risk population can be expected after antireflux surgery. Mortality is high because of intrinsic disease, especially in the SV population. Fundoplications performed with the assistance of dedicated pediatric cardiac anesthesia personnel followed by recovery in a cardiac intensive care unit is possible with acceptable postoperative morbidity and mortality.