Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42080999›Full record

SynthesisPediatric surgery international2026

Total versus partial fundoplication in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and comparative meta-analysis of 2633 patients highlighting the trade-off between reflux control and postoperative dysphagia.

Pandora Eloa Oliveira Fonseca, Wellgner Fernandes Oliveira Amador, Giovanna Macanhã Scremin, Laura Helena Fuenmayor Mena, Susana Mayer, Nachiket Nijampurkar, Ashwin Pimpalwar

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric surgery international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pandora Eloa Oliveira FonsecaUniversidade Federal de Campina Grande, Cajazeiras, Brazil.
Wellgner Fernandes Oliveira AmadorUniversidade Federal de Campina Grande, Cajazeiras, Brazil.
Giovanna Macanhã ScreminPontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Paraná, Brazil.
Laura Helena Fuenmayor MenaUniversidad Antonio Nariño, Bogotá, Colombia.
Susana MayerUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Nachiket NijampurkarPost-Graduate Institute and Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, Pimpri, Maharashtra, India.
Ashwin PimpalwarDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Bon Secours Mercy Health Children's, Richmond, Virginia, USA. ashwinpimpalwar@hotmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in children requiring surgical intervention when medical therapy fails. Nissen (total) and Toupet (partial) fundoplications are the most frequently performed antireflux procedures; however, their comparative effectiveness and safety in the pediatric population remain uncertain.

methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL from database inception to 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing total and partial fundoplication in patients younger than 18 years with GERD. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models in R software.

resultsEighteen studies including 2,633 children were analyzed. Total fundoplication was associated with a significantly higher risk of postoperative dysphagia compared with partial fundoplication (RR 1.69; 95% CI 1.07-2.68; p = 0.024; I²=12%; n = 1,154), corresponding to an absolute risk increase of 5.7% and a number needed to harm (NNH) of 17. No significant difference was observed in reflux recurrence (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.21-2.42; p = 0.59; I²=71% n = 834), although event rates were numerically lower after total fundoplication (6.8% vs. 13.7%), corresponding to an absolute risk reduction of 6.9% (NNT = 15). Intraoperative complications (RR 1.11; p = 0.84), postoperative complications (RR 1.49; p = 0.12), reoperation rates (RR 0.95; p = 0.88), and mortality (RR 1.09; p = 0.74) were comparable between procedures.

conclusionsTotal and partial fundoplication demonstrate similar effectiveness for reflux control and overall safety in pediatric GERD. However, total fundoplication is associated with a higher risk of postoperative dysphagia, suggesting that partial fundoplication may offer functional advantages in selected patients.

Indexed as

Deglutition DisordersFundoplicationGastroesophageal RefluxPostoperative ComplicationsChildHumansTreatment OutcomeFundoplicationGastroesophageal refluxNissen fundoplicationPediatric surgeryPostoperative dysphagiaReflux recurrenceToupet fundoplication

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.