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Laparoscopic surgery in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts
1Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Insights
Laparoscopic surgery is safe for children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. This study found no increased risk of complications or technical issues in these pediatric patients undergoing the procedure.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts often require surgical interventions.
- Laparoscopic surgery offers potential benefits but raises concerns for patients with shunts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
- To determine if shunted children face increased risks of complications or technical difficulties during laparoscopic procedures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1995 and 1998.
- Comparison of outcomes for children with shunts versus those without shunts undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication.
Main Results:
- Ten children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts underwent laparoscopic surgery; three experienced complications unrelated to the shunt.
- No shunt dysfunction was observed in relation to the laparoscopic procedures.
- Laparoscopic fundoplication outcomes (operative time, conversion rates, complications) were similar between children with and without shunts.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective option for pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
- The presence of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt does not appear to increase surgical risks during laparoscopic procedures.
Background/Purpose:
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts may require laparoscopic surgery. The authors aimed to determine if this group of children are at greater risk for complications or technical problems.
Methods:
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1995 and 1998 were reviewed. In addition, the subset of children undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with the group of children without shunts who- had the same operation during the same period.
Results:
Ten children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts underwent laparoscopic surgery. Three had complications, none of which were caused by the shunt. None had any evidence of shunt dysfunction related to the laparoscopic procedure. The 6 children with shunts who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with 17 similar children without shunts who underwent the same operation during the same period. There were no differences between the groups with respect to operating time, conversion to an open approach, or complications.
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely and effectively in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.