Laparoscopic Fundoplication in Patients with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts: A Systematic Review and Our Experience

Data on the outcomes of laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) in patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are limited. We retrospectively evaluated the demographic characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent LF at our institutions between 2014 and 2022. Then, we systematically reviewed articles in MEDILINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. There was no significant difference in terms of the outcomes between patients with VP shunt (n = 10) and those without (n = 96) at our institutions. None of the patients presented with shunt trouble after LF. The meta-analysis included four retrospective studies and our institutional data. In total, 605 patients (55 with VP shunt) underwent LF. Furthermore, 2 (3.6%) of 55 patients (1 with infection and 1 with occlusion) had shunt troubles. The conversion and complication rates, operative time, and length of hospital stay did not significantly differ between patients with VP shunt and those without. LF can be safely performed on children with VP shunts and is associated with a low risk of shunt troubles. The Clinical Trial Registration number is 2022-387.