• Maurizio Pacilli, Simon Eaton, Merrill McHoney, Edward M Kiely, David P Drake, Joseph I Curry, Keith J Lindley, and Agostino Pierro.
• Department of Surgery, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London, London, UK.
• Arch. Dis. Child. 2014 Jun 1; 99 (6): 516-21.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the 4-year results following a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing open (ONF) and laparoscopic (LNF) Nissen fundoplication in children.BackgroundIt is assumed that long-term results of ONF and LNF are comparable. No randomised studies have been performed in children.MethodsA follow-up study was performed in children randomised to ONF or LNF (clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT00259961). Recurrent gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) was documented by upper gastrointestinal contrast study and/or 24-h pH study. Nutritional status, retching and other symptoms were investigated. A questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life before and after surgery.ResultsThirty-nine children were randomised to ONF (n=20) or LNF (n=19). There were 15 ONF and 16 LNF neurologically impaired children. One patient (ONF group) was lost to follow-up. Follow-up was 4.1 years (3.1-5.3) for ONF group and 4.1 years (2.6-5.1) for LNF group (p=0.9). Seven neurologically impaired children had died by the time of follow-up (3 ONF, 4 LNF). Incidence of recurrent GER was 12.5% in the ONF and 20% in the LNF (p=ns). One patient in each group underwent redo-Nissen fundoplication. Nutritional status improved in both groups, as indicated by a significant increase in weight Z-score (p<0.01). Gas bloat and dumping syndrome were present in both groups (p=ns). Incidence of retching was lower in the laparoscopic group (p=0.01). Quality of life improved in both groups (p=ns).ConclusionsOpen and laparoscopic Nissen provide similar control of reflux and quality of life at follow-up. LNF is associated with reduced incidence of retching persisting at 4-year follow-up.Trial Registration NumberNCT00259961.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

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