title: The effect of laparoscopic excision vs open excision in children with choledochal cyst: a midterm follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy has been the classic procedure for treating choledochal cysts. Recently, laparoscopic treatment of the disease has gained popularity worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether laparoscopic management of choledochal cysts is as feasible and safe as conventional open surgery in children with this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study comparing the laparoscopic and the open procedures was performed in 77 consecutive patients with choledochal cyst in our hospital. Thirty-nine patients operated on between June 2001 and September 2003 were in the laparoscopic group, whereas 38 patients in the open group were operated on between February 1999 and May 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient demographics were similar between the 2 groups. The duration of operation was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (median, 230 vs 190 minutes; P < .001). In contrast, the durations of delayed oral feeding and hospital stay postoperatively were significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (median, 4 vs 5 days [P < .01] and median, 5 vs 7 days [P < .01], respectively.) There were no differences in the early and late complication rates between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic treatment of choledochal cyst in children is feasible and safe. For experienced centers, this procedure can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, BaYi Children's Hospital, The military general hospital of Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liuming
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, the First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hongwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, BaYi Children's Hospital, The military general hospital of Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, the First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Hou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wenying
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre; Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Kenneth Kak Yuen
authors.initials: KKY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre; Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, the First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qizhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shuli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, the First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: lilong23@126.com.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D015529:Choledochal Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007582:Jejunostomy / Q000379:methods; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome