[Laparoscopic surgery in children].
OBJECTIVE
We summarize our experience in laparoscopic surgery between 1992 and 1997 in an attempt to provide the pediatrician with up-dated information regarding the background, technical basis and limitations of this procedure in children.


METHODS
For our 315 operations we used conventional endoscopic equipment with miniaturized instruments and regular anesthetic procedures assisted only with on-line capnography and increased tidal volume. Ages ranged between newborn and adolescence and the main indications for surgery were gonadal operations (n = 113), fundoplication (n = 40), cholecystectomy (n = 35), exploration for recurrent abdominal pain (n = 44) and appendectomy (n = 29), but we also performed spleenectomies (n = 7), nephrectomies (n = 6), rectosigmoidectomies (n = 4) and several other procedures.


RESULTS
Complications were scares [4 major (1.2% and 17 minor (5.3%)] and were satisfactorily solved. The conversion to an open operation was felt necessary in only 7 instances (2.2%) and this approach has been fully rewarding in terms of good results, little pain, short hospital stay and rapid recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic surgery is already a realistic alternative in pediatric medicine and its indications are growing every day as a result of its widespread use. The pediatrician has to be aware of the opportunity, rationale and limits of this approach since he will be increasingly confronted with it.
Olivares
P
P
Departamento de Cirugía Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz, Madrid.
Tovar
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male
Cirugía laparoscópica en niños.