Minimal access surgery in children:a 5 year study.

Over a period of 5 years, we analyzed our data on outcome, feasibility, and safety of Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) in 211 children. The outcome was compared objectively with age matched controls with similar diagnosis undergoing open surgery over the same period. There was no significant difference between mortality, morbidity, re-exploration rates and analgesic requirement between MAS and open surgery. There was a significant difference in the length of stay in hospital, in favour of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, nephrectomy, splenectomy, surgery for intra-abdominal testis compared to open surgery but not for children undergoing surgery for appendicular perforation and intestinal pathology. All parents preferred the cosmetic outcome of minimal access surgery.