Trends in fundoplication volume for pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease

Fundoplication for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been commonly performed by pediatric surgeons, however there are no recent data documenting fundoplication trends. Changes in fundoplication volume impact pediatric surgical training and may reflect changes in care for children with severe GERD. The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) was queried from 2010–2019 for children with ICD-9/ICD-10 codes for GERD, fundoplication, and gastrostomy. Institutional surgical volume and patient demographics were examined over time. A secondary analysis using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs for pediatric surgery fellows was performed across the same years to assess effects upon surgical volume for trainees. Mean institutional fundoplication case volume decreased from 50 in 2010 to 17 in 2019. Trends were similar between institutions with and without fellowship programs when corrected by total operative volume. Patient characteristics were relatively unchanged between 2010 and 2019. Fundoplication volume reported in fellow case logs decreased from 46 in 2010 to 26 in 2019, mirroring national data. Institutional volume for fundoplication in children with GERD has seen a 3-fold decrease over the last decade, mirrored by an almost 2-fold decrease in case volume reported by pediatric surgery fellows.