[Laparoscopy in the treatment of intestinal invagination in children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Context:

• Intestinal invagination, also known as intussusception, is a common surgical emergency in children.
• Traditional treatment involves laparotomy, which can lead to longer recovery times and higher complication rates.
• Laparoscopic techniques offer a potential alternative for managing this condition.

Purpose:

• To review the experience with laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal invagination in children.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic desinvagination compared to traditional laparotomy.

Summary:

• A study involving 142 children with intestinal invagination compared laparoscopic desinvagination with traditional laparotomy in a control group of 50 children.
• Laparoscopic desinvagination, performed under video-control with forceps and air insufflation, successfully treated 88.7% of cases without the need for laparotomy.
• The laparoscopic group experienced significantly shorter operative times (32.6 min vs. 65 min), a fivefold reduction in postoperative complications, and a threefold decrease in hospitalization duration.

Impact:

• Laparoscopic desinvagination is a safe and highly effective alternative to laparotomy for treating pediatric intestinal invagination.
• This minimally invasive technique leads to improved patient outcomes, including reduced morbidity and shorter hospital stays.
• The findings support the wider adoption of laparoscopic desinvagination in pediatric surgical practice.