Total Laparoscopic Approach for Transhiatal Esophagectomy and Gavriliu's Esophagoplasty in Children with Caustic Esophageal Injuries.

Background: Esophageal repair after caustic injury is a surgical challenge in children. The aim of this study was to report the first results of a total laparoscopic approach in transhiatal esophagectomy and esophageal replacement by an anisoperistaltic gastric tube.

Methods: A retrospective review of data from children operated on with a laparoscopic approach for transhiatal esophagectomy and Gavriliu's esophagoplasty between 2011 and 2015 was performed. Surgical techniques were related with variations for 2 cases, 1 case with robotic assistance and 1 with thoracoscopic assistance.

Results: Seven patients were operated on. The median weight was 16 kg. Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 2 days. Total esophagectomy was achieved in all cases. Two patients could eat after a barium swallow 7 days after surgery. The most frequent immediate complication (57%) was anastomotic or gastric tube leakage treated successfully in 100% of the cases with self-expanding metallic stent placement. Seventy-one percent of children presented with stenosis, which responded to pneumatic dilatation in 67% of the cases. Redo surgery was required in 43%, either for anastomosis revision or nonfunctioning gastric tube. With an average follow-up of 51 months, 85.7% of children achieved oral feeding.

Conclusions: Total laparoscopic approach for esophagectomy and esophageal replacement by Gavriliu's anisoperistaltic gastric tube is a feasible technique allowing to shorten the postoperative mechanical ventilation duration and save parietal damage often present in these patients requiring multiple surgery. It appears to have a good long-term tolerance, although the immediate postoperative complication rate remains as high as the open technique.