Laparoscopic Repair of Duodenal Atresia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To investigate the outcome of laparoscopic repair of duodenal atresia (LRDA) in relation to different approaches with regard to suture material and anastomosis technique. To identify evidence for the safety and efficacy of LRDA compared with the conventional open repair.

Systematic search was performed for all studies on LRDA, excluding case reports, and all comparative studies between LRDA and open repair. Chi-square was used to assess associations between complications or conversions rates and different LRDA approaches (suture material, suturing technique). Meta-analysis was employed to compare LRDA and open repair.

The complications and conversions rates of LRDA were not affected by the different suture materials (Silk, Vicryl, PDS; p = 0.51) or suturing technique (interrupted, continuous; p = 0.46). The meta-analysis did not show significant differences between LRDA and open repair in overall complications rate (p = 0.88), time to feeds (p = 0.12) and hospitalization time (p = 0.28), although it revealed longer operative time with LRDA (p < 0.0001).

LRDA shows comparable safety and efficacy with the open repair, although it is associated with significantly longer operative time. There is no evidence that the type of the suture material or anastomotic technique affects the outcome of LRDA.