title: Pediatric laparoscopy and thoracoscopy.
abstract: Although applications of MIS to the pediatric population appear limitless, it is important to continually assess what surgical procedure is in the best interest of the individual child. The pediatric expertise of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nursing staff along with their comfort with MIS should be thoroughly considered. The management of available resources also is of importance. The experimental techniques of today are rapidly becoming tomorrow's established standard of care. All health professionals should take the responsibility of developing expertise with these new techniques. The challenge of the future is appropriate application of these procedures while maintaining the child's safety as the foremost concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maine Medical Center, Portland.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Tkacz
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000451:nursing*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013527:Perioperative Nursing; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000451:nursing*