Online Exclusives
Surgical treatment of inspissated bile syndrome using a 2-stage pure laparoscopic approach: A case report
We describe a 99-day old girl with inspissated bile syndrome (IBS) unresponsive to treatment with oral ursodeoxycholic acid. We performed a pure laparoscopic 2-stage procedure, consisting of cholecystostomy and insertion of an indwelling balloon catheter for local ursodeoxycholic acid flushing for 13 consecutive days. Subsequently, the cholecystostomy was removed, preserving the gallbladder using the same laparoscopical approach when bilirubin values returned to normal and bile duct obstruction was no longer detectable radiologically.Laparoscopic management of colonic complications in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV, also known as the vascular type, is the most severe form of the disease. It may cause spontaneous bowel perforation and rupture of major arteries. The treatment of bowel perforation in this population remains controversial because they are at risk for major wound complications owing to poor healing. We report the first use of laparoscopy in children with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.Early diverting colostomy for perianal sepsis in children with acute leukemia
Perineal sepsis is a life-threatening complication of acute leukemia. Although conservative management (antibiotics, incision, and drainage, alone or in combination) is considered the criterion standard, it provides an outcome that is not fully satisfactory, with an overall mortality of roughly 30%. This report presents a case series of 4 children who underwent early defunctioning colostomy for the treatment of perineal sepsis during leukemia. This management proved to be successful and allowed prompt reestablishment of chemotherapy, thus improving overall results.Successful laparoscopic removal of mesenteric and omental cysts in toddlers: 3 cases with a literature review
Mesenteric and omental cysts are rare benign intraabdominal anomalies with uncertain etiologies. Surgical removal is the preferred treatment owing to complications related to cyst enlargement. A 1-year-old boy with an intrauterine diagnosis of a cystic mass adjacent to his stomach and liver, a 3-year-old girl, and a 3-year-old boy with an incidental diagnosis of intraabdominal cysts were scheduled for laparoscopic surgery. The mass of the 1-year-old boy was a multiloculated cyst originating from the lesser omentum, the incidental mass in the girl was a multiseptated cyst located in the jejunoileal mesentery, and the incidental mass of the 3-year-old boy was a uniloculated cyst originating from the ileal mesentery.Laparoscopic excision of a giant splenic vascular tumor
The splenic vascular tumor referred to as a hemangioma is rare and typically presents as a small asymptomatic lesion. We report a case of a giant splenic cyst in a 13-year-old boy with abdominal distension. He underwent laparoscopic excision of the splenic cyst without complication. Pathology revealed a vascular tumor. At 15 months of follow-up, he continued to be asymptomatic, and abdominal ultrasound showed no recurrence of his disease. Laparoscopic excision of giant splenic cysts is a viable option in children, allowing for preservation of normal splenic tissue.Early laparoscopic repair for blunt duodenal perforation in an adolescent
Duodenal perforation secondary to blunt abdominal trauma in children is rare and usually associated with delays in diagnosis and surgical intervention. The authors encountered such a case in a 12-year-old boy owing to his falling over the handlebar of a bicycle. Imaging examination showed that there was a perforation over the fourth portion of the duodenum without concomitant injuries. Using a 5-port transperitoneal laparoscopic technique, primary closure of the perforation was successfully performed at 6 hours after the impact.Laparoscopic-assisted perineal pull-through vaginoplasty
Hematometrocolpos is the result of vaginal obstruction and can become an emergency in the pubertal period. The treatment of imperforate hymen is well defined, but the treatment of vaginal atresia is more complex. We report a case of hematometrocolpos secondary to distal vaginal atresia that was operated on in the pubertal period. The patient had isolated distal atresia without persistence of the urogenital sinus. A combined abdominal laparoscopic and perineal approach and a posterior vaginoplasty were carried out.Laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy in children with a duplex collecting system plus obstructed ureteral ectopia
One of the complex upper urinary tract anomalies is a duplicated collecting system. In cases with a functioning upper moiety, ureteroureterostomy (UU) is the preferred operation to redirect the urine to the normal collecting system. Although open UU is a well-described operation, experience with laparoscopic repair pediatric patients is scarce. We describe the successful application of laparoscopic UU in 2 children and suggest that laparoscopic UU for the duplicated collecting system is a promising minimally invasive procedure.Trichobezoar causing pancreatitis: first reported case of Rapunzel syndrome in a boy in North America
Trichobezoar is a mass of hair retained in the stomach, usually associated with trichotillomania. Large trichobezoars may extend into the small bowel and cause small bowel obstruction or pancreatic dysfunction, a condition known as Rapunzel syndrome. Here we report the first North American case of Rapunzel syndrome in a male patient.Noningested intraperitoneal foreign body causing chronic abdominal pain: a role for laparoscopy in the diagnosis
In this article, we present an unusual case of a young boy who presented with abdominal pain and was found to have a sewing needle that had migrated through the abdominal wall into the peritoneal space. After imaging and endoscopy, the needle was extracted laparoscopically without any evidence of intra-abdominal organ injury and with a good long-term outcome for the child. There are no other such reported cases in the literature. This case highlights the subtleties in management of intra-abdominal foreign bodies in children including rare causes such noningested foreign bodies.Laparoscopic cystectomy for splenic hydatid cyst: a case report
Even in countries where it is considered endemic, splenic hydatid cyst is a very rare disease in childhood. Partial or total splenectomy has generally been the treatment of choice for this condition. This is the first report of laparoscopic cystectomy as treatment of isolated splenic hydatid cyst in childhood. A 10-year-old girl with isolated splenic hydatid cyst was successfully treated by laparoscopic cystectomy and splenic preservation. The authors have demonstrated that laparoscopic cystectomy for an isolated splenic hydatid cyst is technically feasible, safe, and is associated with a shorter hospital stay and good cosmetic appearance.Pneumatosis intestinalis after laparoscopic appendectomy: case report and review of the literature
Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is the presence of intraluminal gas within the wall of the intestine. As a marker for bowel injury owing to mucosal injury, PI may herald a severe underlying disease process in patients without a significant medical history. In other cases, PI is a benign process, and expectant management is appropriate. Here, we present the first reported case of pneumatosis associated with postoperative abscess after appendectomy and its successful management. Then, we describe the pathophysiology of pneumatosis and review the literature regarding its origin and management.Enhancing safety of laparoscopic vascular control for neonatal sacrococcygeal teratoma
Life-threatening bleeding is a hazard of major tumor excision in children. However, fatalities from inadvertent arterial ligation should not be overlooked. Sacrococcygeal teratoma is the commonest neonatal tumor. Laparotomy to ligate the median sacral artery has been used to preempt potentially fatal resectional bleeding. Use of laparoscopy to achieve the same is an evolving technique, with only 7 neonatal cases described. As such, the Idea, Development, Exploration, Assessment, Long-term study (IDEAL) guidelines on surgical innovation recommend case reports addressing proof of concept, technical factors and safety tips.Laparoscopic repair of traumatic abdominal wall hernia from handlebar injury
A 14-year-old boy was seen at an outside hospital after falling over the handlebar of his bicycle and was discharged home. He was subsequently seen in our emergency department with complaints of persistent abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed disruption of the muscles of the upper right abdominal wall containing the hepatic flexure of the colon, with a small amount of intraperitoneal free fluid noted. The patient underwent laparoscopic exploration using 3 ports (2-5 mm and 1-12 mm) and 2 separate stab incisions.Dangerous deliveries: lessons learned during retroperitoneal specimen retrieval
Laparoscopy is now a standard technique in pediatric surgery and urology. Unique complications have been reported during port/instrument insertion and dissection, often relating to issues of visibility or working space. Complications during specimen retrieval are currently unreported. We describe our experience of 2 serious complications occurring during attempted retrieval of a specimen through a port site at the end of the laparoscopic procedure.Bilateral hydrosalpinx with asynchronous tubal torsion: an exceptional finding in a premenarcheal girl
Bilateral hydrosalpinx with asynchronous tubal torsion is an extraordinary event in young girls. This report describes the problems associated with misdiagnosis, therapeutic approach, and the risk of suboptimal treatment of this rare clinical entity in a 13-year-old girl.Peritoneal metastases after laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for localized Wilms tumor
A 2-year-old girl was referred for the management of the progression of her localized Wilms tumor. She had undergone laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for her right Wilms tumor 3 months earlier. Postoperative chemotherapy was commenced 6 weeks later. Subsequent computer tomographic evaluation 12 weeks postsurgery showed local recurrence and peritoneal tumors. These findings were confirmed at laparotomy. We report the first case of peritoneal tumor dissemination after laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for localized Wilms tumor.Laparoscopic excision of a retroperitoneal lymphatic malformation in a newborn
Abdominal lymphatic malformations may be challenging to eradicate. Retroperitoneal lesions may more difficult to resect than mesenteric ones; however, the latter may predispose to intestinal volvulus, leading to calls for their prompt excision. Such lesions identified perinatally may pose particular challenges: in one case, respiratory failure caused by abdominal distension required emergency drainage followed by later laparoscopic excision; laparoscopy has also been used promptly to diagnose and resect neonatal mesenteric lymphatic malformations with their inherent volvulus risk.Pediatric median arcuate ligament syndrome: first report of familial pattern and transperitoneal laparoscopic release
Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a rare disorder resulting from luminal narrowing of the celiac artery by the insertion of the diaphragmatic muscle fibers. Surgical management entails division of the median arcuate ligament with or without celiac artery reconstruction. We are presenting an interesting case of a 16-year-old girl with postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss. Her mother also had MALS treated via open celiotomy with complete median arcuate ligament division and patch angioplasty of the celiac artery owing to persistent stenosis at our institution.A retroperitoneal gastric duplication cyst mimicking a simple exophytic renal cyst in an adolescent
Gastric duplications are rare anomalies and usually occur along the greater curvature of the stomach. The authors herein describe an uncommon case of a retroperitoneal gastric duplication, which was not found during previous emergency laparotomy for suspected peritonitis at another institution. On subsequent computed tomography scan, the lesion was misinterpreted as a simple exophytic renal cyst. Laparoscopy was undertaken because of unresolved symptoms, and a retroperitoneal duplication cyst was successfully excised.Laparoscopic management of neonatal paraesophageal hernia with intrathoracic gastric volvulus
Intrathoracic gastric volvulus associated with neonatal paraesophageal hernia is very rare in the newborn period. We report a case of a 3-week-old term infant who presented to the hospital with a history of non-bilious vomiting. Workup for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis eventually revealed the presence of a congenital hiatal hernia and intrathoracic gastric volvulus requiring urgent surgical management. The infant underwent successful laparoscopic repair. We discuss the diagnosis and management of this extremely rare surgical cause of neonatal nonbilious emesis.Ectopic nephrogenic rests in children: the clinicosurgical implications
Ectopic nephrogenic rests (ENR) are rare. The incidental discovery of these lesions in children has particular clinicosurgical implications, especially given the association between ENR and the development of extrarenal Wilms' tumors (ERWT).Intradiaphragmatic extralobar sequestration—a rare pulmonary anomaly
Extralobar pulmonary sequestrations are most commonly found within the thoracic cavity, but have been described within the abdomen. We present the case of a 16-month-old boy with an intradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration and demonstrate a computed tomographic scan finding that might help identify this extremely rare abnormality preoperatively.Laparoscopic total esophagogastric dissociation
The total esophagogastric dissociation (Bianchi's procedure) is used to control the severe gastroesophageal reflux in patients after failure of the fundoplication techniques. The laparoscopic approach can be usefully performed in patients with impaired respiratory function. We report here 2 patients in whom the total esophagogastric dissociation has been entirely performed by laparoscopy. The laparoscopic examination of the proximal esojejunal anastomosis is made feasible using an intestinal clamp placed to avoid the esophageal retraction up into the posterior mediastinum.Seven-liter ovarian cyst in an adolescent treated by minimal access surgery: laparoscopy and open cystectomy
Laparoscopic approaches to giant ovarian cysts, particularly in adolescents, have critical management concerns as follows: risk of malignancy, risk of cyst rupture, and limited working space. A 15-year-old girl presented with a giant (>25 cm) ovarian serous cyst adenoma containing 7 L of fluid. At open laparoscopy, a giant, entirely cystic, smooth mass originating from the right ovary and lying between the symphysis and the xiphoid was observed. After intraabdominal fluid aspiration, open conservative cystectomy was performed, avoiding spillage.Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of a phenotypic girl with mosaic 45,XO/46,X,idic(Y) mixed gonadal dysgenesis
We report our experience with laparoscopic gonadal biopsy and gonadectomy for a girl with a dicentric Y chromosome in mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD). A 4-year-old phenotypic girl was referred to our hospital because of slight enlargement of the clitoris. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with Y chromosome-specific probes showed a karyotype with 45,XO/46,X,+idic(Y)(p11.32) and presence of the sex-determining region Y sequence. The pathologic finding by frozen section technique using laparoscopic biopsy specimens during the operation demonstrated a left streak gonad and right testis, and she was diagnosed with MGD.Pacifier-induced bowel obstruction—not so soothing
Pacifiers are nearly ubiquitous among children in the United States, and although safety regulations exist, the responsibility to choose and maintain a safe pacifier generally falls on the parents, many of whom are unaware of potential hazards. We report a case of a complete bowel obstruction because of an ingested pacifier nipple and recommend increased awareness among practitioners as well as education of parents.A large struma ovarii tumor removed via laparoscopy in a 16-year-old adolescent
Struma ovarii is rare ovarian tumor that is characterized by the presence of at least 50% thyroid tissue on histologic examination. This usually benign neoplasm is predominantly found in women between the ages of 40 and 60 years and infrequently in the pediatric age group. In the foregoing report, we present an unusual case of a large struma ovarii in a 16-year-old adolescent girl with abdominal pain and increasing abdominal girth. Removal of the mass was achieved via a laparoscopic approach. We conclude that the diagnosis of struma ovarii should be considered in adolescent girls presenting with large cystic ovarian masses and that a laparoscopic approach to management is the treatment of choice.Robotic repair of congenital duodenal atresia: a case report
Although repair of duodenal atresia has been performed laparoscopically, it can be a difficult procedure using rigid handheld laparoscopic instruments. Only a few pediatric surgeons are performing this operation with a minimally invasive approach. Robotic surgery may help overcome the obstacles presented by the use of traditional rigid laparoscopic instruments. We present the world's first robotic repair of congenital duodenal atresia in a 2.4-kg, 1-day-old newborn. The procedure took less than 3 hours, and the patient had an unremarkable postoperative course.Laparoscopic splenopexy and cystectomy for an enlarged wandering spleen and splenic cyst
Wandering spleen is an uncommon condition, which can present emergently in children. Similarly, nonparasitic splenic cysts are also rarely encountered. In this report, we describe a massive wandering spleen (22 cm in longitudinal dimension) with a pseudocyst (4.6 × 2 cm) in the inferior pole in an asymptomatic 16-year-old adolescent. Only 4 similar cases have been reported in the literature; 2 of them have been in the pediatric age group. These 2 conditions were diagnosed while she was being evaluated for dysmenorrhea, and she was referred for surgical consultation.Laparoscopic cystojejunostomy as a treatment option for pancreatic pseudocysts in children—a case report
Pancreatic pseudocysts are a rare entity in children for which many approaches have been described. We report on the case of a 5-year-old boy with a pancreatic pseudocyst after blunt abdominal trauma. The patient's clinical and laboratory examination findings had also revealed an acute pancreatitis. His diagnostic workup included ultrasound examination and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Two large cysts were found at the tail of the pancreas. No injury of the pancreatic or bile duct was found.Laparoscopic excision of a giant ovarian cyst after ultrasound-guided drainage
The laparoscopic approach to giant ovarian cysts in pediatric population may be difficult regarding the risk of cyst rupture and limited working space. We herein report a 16-year-old adolescent girl that presented with a giant ovarian cyst. To reduce the limitations of the laparoscopy, we performed laparoscopy after draining the cyst under ultrasonographic guidance. Under local anesthesia, a nephrostomy catheter was placed into the cyst by the Seldinger technique. During laparoscopy, abdominal cavity was explored by the scope and then the nephrostomy catheter was removed.Laparoscopic neo-os creation in an adolescent with uterus didelphys and obstructed hemivagina
Uterus didelphys is a rare congenital anomaly with a well-documented association with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Treatment of this anomaly includes drainage of hematocolopos and excision of the vaginal septum, which has traditionally used a scalpel or scissors, often with hymenotomy. Recently, a less invasive approach using hysteroscopic resection has been reported, allowing improved visualization with preservation of the hymenal ring. In this article, we present an alternative minimally invasive approach using a combination of laparoscopy and vaginoscopy in the case of a 10-year-old girl.Total laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy performed in a child with benign liver mass
Despite the increasing number of recent reports on laparoscopic liver resection in adults, there are only rare reports on such a procedure being performed in children. The authors report here on a total laparoscopic left lateral sectionectomy that was performed in a 5-year-old girl who had a cystic tumor of the liver. The operative time was 150 minutes, the estimated blood loss was about 100 mL, and no intraoperative transfusion was required. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11 without any significant complications.Laparoscopic cystogastrostomy for the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts in children
Pancreatic pseudocysts (PPSs) are common sequelae of pancreatitis and pancreatic trauma. The management is based upon the pseudocyst size and presence of symptoms. Those requiring intervention are often drained using several available options. The use of laparoscopic cystogastrostomy for large and recurrent PPSs has been described in adult patients as a less morbid alternative to open drainage procedures. This technique is considered a novel approach in children. We describe 2 children who had PPSs amenable to laparoscopic cystogastrostomy.Combined thoraco-laparoscopy for trans-diaphragmatic thoraco-abdominal enteric duplications
During the last years, several thoracic and abdominal enteric duplications were resected in our institution by means of minimally invasive approaches [Rev Cir Infantil 1999;9(2):113-115]. Our last patient, however, had a giant thoraco-abdominal duodenal duplication, extending from the upper thoracic cavity to the pelvis, in a dumbbell fashion. Forty days after birth, a combined “thoraco-laparoscopy” was performed, achieving a complete resection of the cyst. The diaphragmatic defect was repaired as well.Laparoscopic patch repair of diaphragmatic hernias with Surgisis
Laparoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernias has been sparsely reported. Moreover, each report has primarily been a single operative case. In most of the reports, prosthetic mesh has not been used, and when used, it has been nonabsorbable in nature. Most of these case reports have documented only a few months of clinical follow-up.
