Laparoscopic duodenoduodenostomy with parallel anastomosis for duodenal atresia

Currently, a diamond-shaped anastomosis is preferred for the surgical repair of duodenal atresia (DA) in both open and laparoscopic surgery. We report the results of laparoscopic duodenoduodenostomy with parallel anastomosis (LDPA) in DA.

We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients who underwent laparoscopic duodenoduodenostomy from February 2005 to May 2015 in Samsung Medical Center. All patients underwent operation within the first month after birth. Patients who were transversely anastomosed after duodenotomy and patients who underwent simultaneous operation on combined anomalies were excluded. Parallel anastomosis was used in all surgeries. Four trocars were used in laparoscopic repair. After mobilization of both proximal and distal ends, the proximal end was incised transversely and the distal end was incised longitudinally. Duodenoduodenostomy with parallel anastomosis using a 5-0 glyconate monofilament was performed with interrupted sutures.

Eleven patients (50 %) were male. Median gestational age was 36 + 6 weeks (32 + 7-40 + 6). Median age at the time of operation and median body weight were 3 days (1-12) and 2.53 kg (1.63-3.18), respectively. All patients were diagnosed prenatally and 16 patients (72.7 %) had associated anomalies. Median operation time was 142 min (96-290) and median postoperative day to start oral feeding was 5 days (3-9) and median postoperative day of reaching full feeding was 11 days (6-19). Median postoperative day was 13 days (10-60). There was no anastomotic leakage or stenosis. Median follow up was 3.5 months (1-21). Currently, there is no late complication.

LDPA can be performed easily to patients who have DA in neonatal period. It is anatomically natural and the risk of leakage or stenosis does not seem significant. Therefore, parallel anastomosis should be considered as a safe procedural option for laparoscopic duodenoduodenostomy in DA.