Two decades of minimally invasive pediatric surgery—taking stock

Abstract

Background The past 2 decades have seen a rapid integration of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to pediatric surgical practice. This study endeavored to delineate the current status of MIS in pediatric surgery. Methods Three hundred six pediatric surgeons were invited to participate in an anonymous Web-based survey. Apart from demographic details and opinion regarding robotic surgery, surgeons were asked to choose between “perform MIS,” “do not perform MIS but recommend it,” and “MIS not indicated” for common pediatric surgical conditions. Results Responses were received from 117 pediatric surgeons (38.2%). Sixty-one percent of respondents did more than 10% of their work using MIS, and 85% had more than 5 years experience in MIS. Cholecystectomy, nonpalpable testis, and exploration for abdominal pain scored highest among the positive recommendations for MIS, whereas liver tumors, biliary atresia, Wilms' tumor, and inguinal hernia scored highest among the negative recommendations for MIS. Fifty-one percent of the respondents had more than 20 years experience as a pediatric surgeon and were categorized as “senior” surgeons. Compared with the young surgeons, the senior surgeons were more likely to recommend MIS as a contraindication for simple and complicated appendicitis, reduction of intussusception, gastrostomy, fundoplication, pyloromyotomy, adhesiolysis, splenectomy, adrenalectomy, nephrectomy for dysplastic kidneys, heminephrectomy, pyeloplasty, anorectal malformations, pyeloplasty, achalasia cardia, hiatal hernia repair, lung resection, and diaphragmatic hernia repair. More than half the respondents believed that robotic surgery has a role for children in the future. Conclusions A widespread integration of MIS into the pediatric surgical practice is evident from this study. Current practice and recommendations of the surveyed surgeons have been outlined. Significant differences between the young and senior surgeons reflect the evolving nature of the recommendations.