[Past, present, and future of pediatric endoscopic surgery]

There has been an enormous evolution in endoscopic surgery, not only in general but also in pediatric surgery. Common pediatric endoscopic procedures, such as laparoscopic appendectomy, pyloromyotomy, and Nissen fundoplication, have been developed since the early 1990s, and many advanced pediatric endoscopic surgical techniques have been developed during the last two decades. Recently, thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula, laparoscopic portoenterostomy (Kasai operation) for the treatment of biliary atresia, etc., have been performed in high-volume centers of pediatric endoscopic surgery even in neonates and young infants. The evolution and development of minimally invasive pediatric endosurgery depend on the equipment and instrumentation technology, while the role of education and training in the pediatric endoscopic surgical field is extremely important. The history, present status, and future development of pediatric laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery are reviewed.