Minimal access surgery in children: an initial experience of 28 months.

Background: This study reports our 28 months experience with minimal access surgery (MAS) in children.

Materials And Methods: This was a review of all children who underwent MAS between December 2004 and March 2007 at the Departments of Paediatric Surgery, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (GSMC) and King Edward the VII Memorial (KEM) Hospital, India. Results and observations were tabulated and analysed, comparing with observations by various other authors regarding variety of indications such as, operative time, hospital stay, conversion rate, complications, safety, and feasibility of MAS in neonates, in the appropriate operative groups.

Urethral ratio on voiding cystourethrogram: a comparative method to assess success of posterior urethral valve ablation.

Objective: To develop a simple, objective and reproducible quantitative measurement to assess success of posterior urethral valve ablation.

Method: In 30 patients with posterior urethral valves the diagnosis was confirmed by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Our protocol was to perform valve ablation, and repeat VCUG at 12 weeks postoperatively.

Laparoscopy in management of abdominal pain in children.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy for abdominal pain in children. Fifty-four children under the age of 12 years who presented with an acute abdomen with symptoms of duration of less than 72 hours (N = 21), and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) with duration of symptoms ranging from 2 to 18 months (N = 33) were included in this study. Patients who presented with hemodynamic instability and signs of generalized peritonitis were excluded from this study.