Laparoscopic thal fundoplication in infants and children

Abstract

In recent years it has become more clear that the type of antireflux procedure is less relevant, as long as the three pillars of the antireflux procedure (bringing the distal esophagus into the abdominal cavity, narrowing of the hiatus, and fixation of the fundus against/around the distal esophagus and diaphragm) are properly carried out. The Thal anterior fundoplication was originally described by Alan Thal in 1968 for patching of the distal esophagus, and later advocated by Ashcraft et al. (1978) for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. With the Thal procedure fewer complications of gas bloat, wrap disruption, and wrap displacement are described. The principles of a laparoscopic Thal fundoplication are similar those of an open procedure (van der Zee et al. 1994). © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2008.