Daniel's Fundoplications laproscopic and open

Performed by key hole surgery (laparoscopic) and open second time Teenager with Cerebral Palsy and Barrett's Oesophagus

Daniel

Daniel has cerebral palsy ,in 2002 he was waiting for the biggest operation off his life for scoliosis where the spine twists and contorts. He had pre-op tests and the doctors asked me about any issues that worries me with him .I said yep he is always been sick, and weight gain is a problem for him , so I hope the day off his op is not one off them . This was probably the most significant thing I told them.

They asked me a bit more history etc had blood tests and where done, 2 days alter the doctor called me and asked us to come in to see them, he explained that Daniel was significantly anemic ,this was more normally seen in patients with gastric problems and said I am asking my college to see him urgently if only to rule possibilities out.

Two weeks later we saw a gastro doc who took a ton off notes and asked a million questions ,he felt Daniels sickness was reflux ,bearing in mine I was a reflux virgin then. He felt a scope was urgently needed as was a transfusion which our local pediatrician felt was a good idea anyway. He had 2 units transfused and was like a different kid ,we then got in hospital for the scope.

The doctor came on the ward pretty soon after the scope and talked a lot and showed us a lot off pics off Daniels insides which looked red and angry. He felt a fundo and g tube was the only option and felt it must happen soon ,he talked with the orthopedic team and decided to wait until after the spine operation. He did put him on Losec and Gaviscon straight away, we had the spine op in June the day before his 14 birthday, it was rotten but very worth while indeed he was so straight and best bit no body brace ..

Then the fundo was organised for November but Dan was to ill due to reflux which we now knew, also January was the same. He had the operation in February 2003 which was the lap procedure, the op was pretty bad and the recovery was quite slow .I must add to make matters worse Dan's right hip had dislocated in November and he needed it also sorting another big operation. He had the hip done in March, he was vomiting every day by April and very ill on and off indeed. We tried every anti sickness medication going.

It was a bad summer and by December he was very thin indeed .The surgeon did a barium X-ray showing the fundo to be useless, they felt a re do was the only way forward. He had that done in February 2004 he had it done open this time and they re sited his tube a lot lower down. He was really not great and retched for England big time. He had many appointments etc and admissions and was diagnosed with cyclical vomiting syndrome. We tried medications etc but none worked well until we tried cyclazine, it was like a transformation. He wasn't sick every Friday for 3 days it went on for weeks and weeks, the pediatrician who put him on it also referred us to a new gastro as urgent He saw us within 5 weeks and admitted Dan there and then he had scopes, biopsies, pH run, and medications increased.

He saw us in clinic and said the reflux was under control but Daniel had Barretts Oesophagus, he had reflux so long it had done significant damage to him .He suggested a ongoing plan to laser it away, so there we are. I cannot believe it he is healthy but still doing the laser ,we are making a good impact on the Barretts tissue and off course see a great gi doctor. The plan is to laser and monitor by biopsies as long as we need to then eventually scope just once a year. Dan takes Losec, Gaviscon, Cyclazine, Thick and easy for the reflux. He is also my joy my inspiration my very special gift