title: Laparoscopic excision of urachal cyst in pediatric age: report of three cases and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of pediatric urachal disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports and a literature review of laparoscopic excision of urachal remnants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a five-year period, three children were diagnosed with urachal anomalies presenting as abdominal or urinary symptoms, and were treated by laparoscopic surgery. The average age was 8.3 years (range, 4-13),and there were two girls and one boy. Mean operative time was 90 minutes (range, 60-120), and there were nopostoperative complications. The three patients were all discharged by postoperative day four.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy is an effective and safe minimally invasive technique in the management of pediatricurachal anomalies. It is effective even in cases of infected urachal cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, S. Bortolo Hospital Vicenza, Vicenza, Italy. fabio.chiarenza@libero.it
authors.forename: Salvatore Fabio
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chiarenza
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Maria Angelica
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Novek
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Musi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014496:Urachal Cyst / Q000601:surgery*