You know, I just wanted to throw this out there to everyone that here in California, there was a huge summit meeting a few months back and as of that date they discussed the length of time before resorting to the fundoplication. And, they now say they will give meds 3 months to work and then they resort to the fundoplication. My GI who went to this meeting told me this at our last visit. At that time Eli had been on prilosec, bethanechol, and erythromyicin for 9 months straight. Isn't that crazy that they changed it to only 3 months? It used to be a year.

You know, I just wanted to throw this out there to everyone that here in California, there was a huge summit meeting a few months back and as of that date they discussed the length of time before resorting to the fundoplication. And, they now say they will give meds 3 months to work and then they resort to the fundoplication. My GI who went to this meeting told me this at our last visit. At that time Eli had been on prilosec, bethanechol, and erythromyicin for 9 months straight. Isn't that crazy that they changed it to only 3 months? It used to be a year.
I'm not from California, but I must admit that 3 months does sound like such a short time, especially if there's a chance that the child will outgrow the reflux.

That does sound like a huge change. And you'd think it would be more of a case-by-case basis. I guess they're just setting some ground rules.

Ya, there has to be more to it than that...usually there is a specific criteria that patients should meet...along with the failed medical management.

Wow !
That information really saddens me. :( Yes, some children do really well after the Nissen but, newer studies are starting to show that over 60% of children whom have had surgery for reflux will have some type of failure either long term or short term. I can't help but, feel this surgery is becoming a trend for Dr.s and surgeons for almost as little a reason as cosmetic surgeries. If our son hadn't been activly bleeding and if our family hadn't such a high rate of esophageal cancer, we would have rather lived with the Reflux then what we live with now. We have lost a total of 4 family members to esophageal cancer at very young ages 42-57 years of age all of them males. So, Noah was more than a canadite for the surgery. I also feel the PH Studies should always be done while the children are on medicine. All of Noahs were preformed that way which gave us a much better picture than having him stop the meds as 98% of all GI Dr's have parents do. I will be happy when the standards for this surgery become much much higher and it isn't handed out like candy to patients.

I agree with you RaisinAngels. I hope for the best for Noah. And, wow, with all the problems in your family with the esophagus! How worrisome for you!

Yes, I agree as well, I actually have a link to article about the poor success rates on the surgery page.

We are so incredibly lucky that our doctors are so gun shy with the fundo...they tend to agree with me on it.

Roni,
How great that you have Dr.s that are sceptical in the procedure. For our son in hindsight he would have been much better off never having the fundo preformed and waiting out for the newer procedures that are becoming available.

That's kind of my hope...I know, I love Shae's ped, GI and surgeon! They are all awesome. I wish they weren't so busy though, I would to sit and discuss the fundo with them "on the record". I'm so happy they opted for the jejunostomy over the fundo and I'd love to get their opinions on it a little more.

the newer procedures that are becoming available.
What are the newer procedures and will they be done on children? Also, I'm sure that many people would like to know how safe and how effective they are.

The stretta (http://www.curonmedical.com/Physicians/stretta_gerd.html), endocinch (http://www.endocinch.com/doc_bard.cfm and enteryx (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/449755) are ones that have recently come out, by recently I mean, just in the past five or less years I think.

I will eventually add this info the site as well, but since they aren't done on kids yet there's other stuff I want to work on adding first.

I haven't heard any info on when or if they will be done on children. Katy, have you heard anything?

Thanks Roni. I can see why they won't try them on kids yet, but maybe they will some day. It'll be interesting to see.

I do know that the scarring technique will be available in children 5 years and older by next year. it is being perfected over seas. That probally would have been a great thing for Noah.

Katy,

I know that you can't undo the fundo, but is there any chance of trying the scarring technique on Noah, or as that an impossibility post-fundo.?

I'd guess none of those endoscopic treatments would be possible for Noah now, am I right Katy? It's scary too, to think about trying something so new on your child, I know for me it would be anyway.

I would have much preferred one of the newer procedures for Noah as they have wonderful sucess rates. It is only a matter of time before they will be safe for children. I wish for Niah's sake that the scarring technique could work for him but, the type of scarring Noah now has from the multiple surgeries is not anything like the "scarring technique" used. So, pretty much at this time we are stuck with a Fundo no matter how much we wish he could be put back to normal.
Don't get me wrong though, Noah was on death's door before we did the Nissen, it has helped with the reflux however, like I said before we have just really traded one problem for another. Overall, the Nissen was the best desicion at the time.

Ya, it's just so hard isn't it when there are no perfect solutions!