Is laparoscopic surgery better than open surgery for the repair of congenital duodenal obstruction? A review of the current evidences
Topic overview
Systematic review of 180 patients comparing laparoscopic versus open repair of congenital duodenal obstruction found no significant differences in operative time, feeding outcomes, or hospital stay. Both approaches show similar safety profiles, though surgeons should remain vigilant for distal pathology when using laparoscopic techniques.
Key takeaways
- No significant difference in operative time, ventilation duration, feeding tolerance, or hospital stay between laparoscopic and open repair of CDO
- Anastomotic complication rates were low in both groups (4.4% laparoscopic vs 1.8% open) with no statistical difference
- Two cases of missed distal pathology occurred in laparoscopic group—surgeons must carefully evaluate entire bowel during minimally invasive repair
- Laparoscopic repair is feasible for congenital duodenal obstruction when performed by experienced surgeons
- Current evidence is limited to 4 retrospective studies with 180 patients—larger prospective trials needed to determine superiority
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