Minimally invasive surgery in paediatric patients

Minimal access techniques have revolutionized surgery in the past 20 years. The concept originated in the early twentieth century and has now become part of standard surgical practice.The potential benefits of laparoscopy include reduced pain, functional impairment, inpatient stay and improved cosmesis. Recent technological advances have assisted in the application of the techniques to a paediatric population. There are now few paediatric surgical procedures remaining that have not been performed using minimal access techniques. The scope of laparoscopy in paediatric surgery encompasses neonatal surgery, thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, oncology and urology.The evidence base for laparoscopic surgery in childhood remains small but is growing. Laparoscopic surgery has been demonstrated to be at least equivalent to its open counterpart in some procedures and superior in a few. The indications for laparoscopic surgery continue to be further refined as more studies are published.