A prospective study comparing operative time in conventional laparoscopic and robotically assisted Thal semifundoplication in children.

Background: It is not clear if robotically assisted surgery (providing articulating instruments, 3-dimensional vision, intuitive ergonomics) performed in pediatric patients offers the same advantages over conventional surgery as in adult patients. In the laboratory setting, robots require less time to perform certain tasks. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that the time required to perform a robotically assisted laparoscopic Thal semifundoplication is different compared with a conventional laparoscopic procedure in children.

Life-threatening hemorrhage in neonates: management with recombinant activated factor VII.

Objective: Massive hemorrhage with shock is a common problem for the intensivist. The use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa), known as efficient treatment for hemophilia, has been reported to control severe bleeding episodes in critically care patients, but never in preterm neonates.

Design: Case report (two cases) and review of the literature.