The clinical value of pediatric laparoscopic surgery using umbilical S-shaped incision

To explore the clinical efficacy, safety and application value of umbilical S-shaped incision in pediatric laparoscopic surgery.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children who underwent surgery via umbilical S-shaped incision in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital from January 2019 to April 2026. The collected data included age, gender, surgical procedures, incision morphology and postoperative complications.

A total of 36 children received umbilical S-shaped incision. The mean age was 6.5 ± 4.4 years old. The surgical procedures comprised 5 cases of laparoscopic choledochal cyst resection combined with hepaticojejunostomy, 5 cases of laparoscopic single-port transumbilical appendectomy, 5 cases of laparoscopic single-site multi-port transumbilical appendectomy, 8 cases of laparoscopic exploration converted to open surgery for small intestinal diverticulectomy, 2 cases of laparoscopic exploration converted to open surgery for enterotomy and foreign body removal, 3 cases of laparoscopic exploration converted to open surgery for small intestinal duplication malformation repair, 2 cases of laparoscopic single-site multi-port transumbilical pyeloplasty, 1 case of laparoscopic retroperitoneal teratoma resection, 3 cases of laparoscopic exploration converted to open surgery for small intestinal lymphangioma resection, 1 case of laparoscopic exploration converted to open surgery for intussusception reduction and small intestinal tumor resection, and 1 case of laparoscopic ovarian teratoma enucleation. All operations were completed successfully. No incision-related complications occurred, and the transumbilical incisions achieved nearly scarless outcomes.

Confined to the umbilicus, the umbilical S-shaped incision allows extracorporeal resection and anastomosis of the small intestine, as well as specimen removal of ovarian teratoma. It does not increase the difficulty of laparoscopic operation, while ensuring concealed incision and satisfactory cosmetic results.