Abstract
Introduction
With the development of advanced skills and the introduction of miniature laparoscopic tools, endoscopic procedures in infants and small children have become possible. This report documents our experience in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in infants under 5 kg.
Methods
A retrospective database review was performed from September 1993 to September 2007. All children weighing 5 kg or less that underwent a laparoscopic or thoracoscopic procedure were included.
Results
A total of 649 cases were attempted. 43 different procedures were performed, the most common being Nissen fundoplication (310 cases, average opearting room (OR) time 43 min, average time to full feeds 2 days), pyloromyotomy (104 cases, average OR time 12.5 min, average hospital days <1), patent ductus arteriosum (PDA) ligation (26 cases, average OR time 31 min, average hospital days <1), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair (22 cases, average OR time 83 min, average time to full feeds 7.8 days), duodenoduodenostomy (20 cases, average OR time 76 min, average time to full feeds 8.6 days), colonic pull-through for Hirschsprung’s disease (18 cases, average OR time 109.6 min, average time to full feeds 3 days), colonic pull-through for imperforate anus (10 cases, average OR time 103 min, average hospital days 2), lung resection (12 cases, average OR time 66.8 min, average hospital days 1.75), congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair (10 cases, average OR time 62.5 min, average time to full feeds 4.75 days). There were no surgery-related deaths. The conversion rate to open was 1.2% (n = 8). There were six intraoperative complication rate (0.9%) and the overall complication rate was 3% (20 complications overall).
Conclusions
The development of modern low-flow CO2 insufflators, smaller instruments and telescopes, as well as advanced techniques, has made MIS in neonates feasible and safe. The greatest challenge remains performing intestinal anastomosis in these confined spaces, and further technical advances will be required to make these techniques universally adopted.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alain JL, Grousseau D, Terrier G (1991) Extramucosal pyloromyotomy by laparoscopy. Surg Endosc 5(4):174–175
Najmaldin A, Tan HL (1995) Early experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. J Pediatr Surg 30(1):37–38
Hamada Y, Tsui M, Kogata M, Hioki K, Matsuda T (1995) Surgical technique of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Surg Today 25(8):754–756
Lobe TE, Schropp KP, Lunsford K (1993) Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in childhood. J Pediatr Surg 28(3):358–60; discussion 360–361
Rothenberg SS (2002) Laparoscopic duodenoduodenostomy for duodenal obstruction in infants and children. J Pediatr Surg 37(7):1088–1089
van der Zee DC, Bax NM (1995) Laparoscopic repair of acute volvulus in a neonate with malrotation. Surg Endosc 9(10):1123–1124
Frantzides CT, Cziperle DJ, Soergel K, Stewart E (1996) Laparoscopic ladd procedure and cecopexy in the treatment of malrotation beyond the neonatal period. Surg Laparosc Endosc 6(1):73–75
Waldhausen JH, Sawin RS (1996) Laparoscopic Ladd’s procedure and assessment of malrotation. J Laparoendosc Surg 6(Suppl 1):S103–S105
Gross E, Chen MK, Lobe TE (1996) Laparoscopic evaluation and treatment of intestinal malrotation in infants. Surg Endosc 10(9):936–937
Georgeson KE (1993) Laparoscopic gastrostomy and fundoplication. Pediatr Ann 22(11):675–677
Stylianos S, Flanigan LM (1995) Primary button gastrostomy: a simplified percutaneous, open, laparoscopy-guided technique. J Pediatr Surg 30(2):219–220
Rothenberg SS (1994) Laparoscopic anti-reflux procedures and gastrostomy tubes in infants and children. Int Surg 79(4):328–331
Georgeson KE, Fuenfer MM, Hardin WD (1995) Primary laparoscopic pull-through for Hirschsprung’s disease in infants and children. J Pediatr Surg 30(7):1017–1021; discussion 1021–1022
Vick LR, Gosche JR, Boulanger SC, Islam S (2007) Primary laparoscopic repair of high imperforate anus in neonatal males. J Pediatr Surg 42(11):1877–1881
Tang S, Dong N, Tong Q, Wang Y, Mao Y (2007) Laparoscopic assisted endorectal pull-through with posterior sagittal approach to the repair of postoperative rectourethral and rectovaginal fistula. Pediatr Surg Int 23(11):1077–1080
Rothenberg S, Holcomb G, Georgeson K, Irish M, Lucas E, Blinman T (2007) Web-based live telesurgery for minimally invasive procedures in children as an educational tool. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 17(2):226–229
Lima M, Tursini S, Ruggeri G, Aquino A, Gargano T, De Biagi L, Ahmed A, Gentili A (2006) Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus: three years’ experience. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 16(1):63–66
Koivusalo A, Pakarinen M, Rintala RJ (2006) Are cecal wrap and fixation necessary for antegrade colonic enema appendicostomy? J Pediatr Surg 41(2):323–326
Kudou S, Iwanaka T, Kawashima H, Uchida H, Nishi A, Yotsumoto K, Kaneko M (2005) Midterm follow-up study of high-type imperforate anus after laparoscopically assisted anorectoplasty. J Pediatr Surg 40(12):1923–1926
Kubota A, Kawahara H, Okuyama H, Oue T, Tazuke Y, Tanaka N, Okada A (2005) Laparoscopically assisted anorectoplasty using perineal ultrasonographic guide: a preliminary report. J Pediatr Surg 40(10):1535–1538
Holcomb GW 3rd, Rothenberg SS, Bax KM, Martinez-Ferro M, Albanese CT, Ostlie DJ, van Der Zee DC, Yeung CK (2005) Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: a multi-institutional analysis. Ann Surg 242(3):422–428; discussion 428–430
Levitt MA, Pena A (2005) Outcomes from the correction of anorectal malformations. Curr Opin Pediatr 17(3):394–401
Koga H, Okazaki T, Yamataka A, Kobayashi H, Yanai T, Lane GJ, Miyano T (2005) Posterior urethral diverticulum after laparoscopic-assisted repair of high-type anorectal malformation in a male patient: surgical treatment and prevention. Pediatr Surg Int 21(1):58–60
Wong KK, Khong PL, Lin SC, Lam WW, Lan LC, Tam PK (2005) Post-operative magnetic resonance evaluation of children after laparoscopic anorectoplasty for imperforate anus. Int J Colorectal Dis 20(1):33–37
Lin CL, Wong KK, Lan LC, Chen CC, Tam PK (2003) Earlier appearance and higher incidence of the rectoanal relaxation reflex in patients with imperforate anus repaired with laparoscopically assisted anorectoplasty. Surg Endosc 17(10):1646–1649
Barqawi AZ, Blyth B, Jordan GH, Ehrlich RM, Koyle MA (2003) Role of laparoscopy in patients with previous negative exploration for impalpable testis. Urology 61(6):1234–1237; discussion 1237
Yamataka A, Yoshida R, Kobayashi H, Lane GJ, Kurosaki Y, Segawa O, Kameoka S, Miyano T (2002) Intraoperative endosonography enhances laparoscopy-assisted colon pull-through for high imperforate anus. J Pediatr Surg 37(12):1657–1660
Sydorak RM, Albanese CT (2002) Laparoscopic repair of high imperforate anus. Semin Pediatr Surg 11(4):217–225
Iwanaka T, Arai M, Kawashima H, Kudou S, Fujishiro J, Matsui A, Imaizumi S (2003) Findings of pelvic musculature and efficacy of laparoscopic muscle stimulator in laparoscopy-assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus. Surg Endosc 17(2):278–281
Gauderer MW, Decou JM, Boyle JT (2002) Sigmoid irrigation tube for the management of chronic evacuation disorders. J Pediatr Surg 37(3):348–351
Yamataka A, Segawa O, Yoshida R, Kobayashi H, Kameoka S, Miyano T (2001) Laparoscopic muscle electrostimulation during laparoscopy-assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus. J Pediatr Surg 36(11):1659–1661
Ng WT, Chang D (2001) Radially dilating trocars are not cost-effective alternatives except for pediatric laparoscopic operations, especially those for undescended testis and imperforate anus. Surg Endosc 15(4):424–425
Georgeson KE, Inge TH, Albanese CT (2000) Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus-a new technique. J Pediatr Surg 35(6):927–930; discussion 930–931
Azuma T, Okada A (1997) [Management of anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung’s disease]. Nippon Geka Gakkai Zasshi 98(12):1023–1029
Amara DP, Nezhat F, Giudice L, Nezhat C (1997) Laparoscopic management of a noncommunicating uterine horn in a patient with an acute abdomen. Surg Laparosc Endosc 7(1):56–59
van der Zee DC, Bax NM (1995) Laparoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 6–month-old child. Surg Endosc 9(9):1001–1003
Ponsky TA, Lukish JR, Nobuhara K, Powell D, Newman KD (2002) Laparoscopy is useful in the diagnosis and management of foramen of Morgagni hernia in children. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech 12(5):375–377
Silen ML, Canvasser DA, Kurkchubasche AG, Andrus CH, Naunheim KS (1995) Video-assisted thoracic surgical repair of a foramen of Bochdalek hernia. Ann Thorac Surg 60(2):448–450
Sato Y, Ishikawa S, Onizuka M, Akaogi E, Mitsui K, Mitsui T (1996) Thoracoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernia. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 44(1):54–55
Bax KM, van Der Zee DC (2002) Feasibility of thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia with distal fistula. J Pediatr Surg 37(2):192–196
Rothenberg SS (2002) Thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula in newborns. J Pediatr Surg 37(6):869–872
Rothenberg SS (2000) Thoracoscopic lung resection in children. J Pediatr Surg 35(2):271–274; discussion 274–275
Gomola A, Gall O, Larroquet M, Constant I, Balquet P, Murat I (1997) Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for right middle lobectomy in children. Paediatr Anaesth 7(3):215–220
Rothenberg SS, Wagner JS, Chang JH, Fan LL (1996) The safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lung biopsy for diagnosis and treatment in infants and children. J Pediatr Surg 31(1):100–103; discussion 103–104
Maehara T, Ohgami M, Kokaji K, Yamashita Y, Wakabayashi G, Nohga K (1993) [An innovative thoracoscopic surgery for patient ductus arteriosus-a Japanese first case report]. Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi 41(9):1522–1527
Rothenberg SS, Chang JH, Toews WH, Washington RL (1995) Thoracoscopic closure of patent ductus arteriosus: a less traumatic and more cost-effective technique. J Pediatr Surg 30(7):1057–1060
Rothenberg SS (2006) Laparoscopic redo Nissen fundoplication in infants and children. Surg Endosc 20(10):1518–1520
Rothenberg SS, Chang JH, Bealer JF (1998) Experience with minimally invasive surgery in infants. Am J Surg 176(6):654–658
Iwanaka T, Arai M, Ito M, Kawashima H, Imaizumi S (2000) Laparoscopic surgery in neonates and infants weighing less than 5 kg. Pediatr Int 42(6):608–612
Iwanaka T, Uchida H, Kawashima H, Nishi A, Kudou S, Satake R (2004) Complications of laparoscopic surgery in neonates and small infants. J Pediatr Surg 39(12):1838–1841
Wilkins BM, Spitz L (1987) Adhesion obstruction following Nissen fundoplication in children. Br J Surg 74(9):777–779
Diamond IR, Herrera P, Langer JC, Kim PC (2007) Thoracoscopic versus open resection of congenital lung lesions: a case-matched study. J Pediatr Surg 42(6):1057–1061
Fuchs J, Kirschner HJ, Warmann SW, Schellinger K, Baden W, Szavay P (2007) [Thoracoscopic anatomical lung resection in children]. Zentralbl Chir 132(3):247–250
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ponsky, T.A., Rothenberg, S.S. Minimally invasive surgery in infants less than 5 kg: experience of 649 cases. Surg Endosc 22, 2214–2219 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-008-0025-7
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-008-0025-7