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This study aimed to assess malpractice in paediatric minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and attitudes, prevention strategies and mechanisms to support surgeons while they are under investigation. An observational, multicentric, questionnaire-based study was conducted. The survey questionnaire was sent via mail, and it comprised four sections. Twenty-four paediatric surgeons (average age 54.6 years), from 13 different countries, participated in this study. The majority had >15 years of experience in MIS. Three (12.5%) surgeons reported a total of five malpractice claims regarding their MIS activity. The reasons for the claims were a postoperative complication in 3/5 (60%) cases, a delayed/failed diagnosis in 1/5 (20%) cases and the death of the patient in 1/5 (20%) cases. The claims concluded with the absolution of the surgeon in all cases, and monetary compensation to the claimant in two (40%) cases. Eleven (45.8%) surgeons were invited as expert counsels in medico-legal actions. Medico-legal aspects have a minimal impact on the MIS activity of paediatric surgeons. In this series, claims concluded with the absolution of the surgeon in all cases, but they had a negative effect on the surgeon's reputation and finances. A key element in supporting surgeons while they are under investigation is always to choose a surgeon who is an expert in paediatric MIS as legal counsel. A constant update on innovations in paediatric MIS and appropriate professional liability insurance may also play a key role in reducing medico-legal consequences.

Abstract: Background: Surgeons are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMS). The present study aims to examine the physical factors and their association with WMS among pediatric laparoscopic surgeons. Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 21 questions was created and mailed to 25 pediatric laparoscopic surgeons (LG). 23/25 surgeons (92%) completed the survey. The questionnaire was analyzed and then split into 2 groups. Group 1 (LG1) included surgeons with greater laparoscopic experience, and group 2 (LG2) included surgeons with less important laparoscopic experience. In addition, we constructed and sent to the same surgeons a similar questionnaire focused on WMS after an open procedure (OG) with the aim to compare results of LG with OG. Results: The prevalence rate of WMS with shoulder symptoms was 78.2% in surgeons that performed laparoscopy for more than 10years, with 60.8% also reporting other pain. In 66.6% this pain is evident only after a long-lasting procedure. Forty-four percent of these surgeons require painkillers at least twice a week. Fifty percent of these surgeons also suffer at home. Fifty-five and one half percent of surgeons indicate that this pain is related to their laparoscopic activity. Forty-three and a half percent think that laparoscopy is beneficial only for the patient but has a bad ergonomic effect for surgeons. Sixty-five and two-tenths percent think that robotic surgery can be helpful to improve ergonomics. Comparing the groups, WMS occur more frequently in LG (78.2%) than in OG (56.5%), but this difference was not statistically significant (χ2 =0.05). In addition, WMS occur more frequently in LG1 (84.6%) than in LG2 (70%), but this difference was not statistically significant (χ2 =0.05). Conclusions: These results confirmed a strong association between WMS and the number of laparoscopic procedures performed. Skilled laparoscopic surgeons have more pain than less skilled laparoscopic surgeons. WMS in the same group of surgeons are more frequent after laparoscopy than after open procedures. The majority of surgeons refer to shoulder symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Wandering spleen in children is a rare condition. The diagnosis is difficult, and any delay can cause splenic ischemia. An epidemiologic, semiological, and surgical diagnosis questionnaire on incidence of wandering spleen in children was sent to several French surgical teams. We report the results of this multicenter retrospective study. Fourteen cases (6 girls, 8 boys) were reported between 1984 and 2009; the age range varies between 1-day-old and 15 years; 86% were seen in the emergency department. Ninety-three percent had diffuse abdominal pain. For 57% of the cases, it was their first symptomatic episode of this type. No diagnosis was established based on the clinical results alone. All patients had presurgical imaging diagnosis. Open surgery was performed on 64% cases. Forty-three had splenectomy for splenic ischemia. Thirty-six percent had splenopexy, 14% had laparoscopic gastropexy, and 7% had spleen repositioning and regeneration. Complications were noted in 60% of the cases resulting in postsplenopexy splenic ischemia. Early diagnosis and surgery are the best guarantee for spleen preservation. Even if the choice of one technique, splenopexy or gastropexy, can be argued, gastropexy has the advantage of avoiding splenic manipulation and restoring proper physiologic anatomy. When there is no history of abdominal surgery, laparoscopy surgery seems the best procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The use of laparoscopy for paediatric inguinal hernia repairs has increased significantly over the past 2 decades. However, there is significant variation in the reported recurrence rates in the literature, with many studies reporting higher rates than the open operation. This may be explained by the range of different techniques currently included under the term laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. The purpose of this study is to determine whether dividing the hernia sac before ligation improves surgical outcomes following a paediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair compared to ligation alone., Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed following PRISMA guidelines of all studies reporting the outcomes following paediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair where the technique was recorded as laparoscopic suture ligation alone (LS) or laparoscopic sac division and suture ligation (LSDS). Studies were assessed for risk of bias and exclusion criteria included reported follow-up of less than 6 months., Results: A total of 8518 LS repairs and 6272 LSDS repairs were included in the final analysis. LSDS repair was associated with a significantly lower recurrence rate (odds ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.36-0.71, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the rates of testicular ascent or atrophy., Conclusion: Recreating the open operation by hernia sac division followed by suture ligation significantly reduces the risk of hernia recurrence., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered useful for the treatment of parapneumonic empyema in children. However, thoracoscopic management of empyema due to esophageal leakage as an operative complication has not been well described in the literature. Case presentation: We successfully decorticated severe empyema using uniport VATS in 2 children (a 2-year-old boy who suffered esophageal perforation after laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery, and a 7-month-old girl who had anastomotic leakage after thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia). In these patients, we noticed that pleural effusion rapidly progressed to empyema and caused respiratory insufficiency due to wide-range coverage by fibrotic pleural rind that was successfully decorticated under video-assisted vision from a mini-thoracotomy, followed by spontaneous healing of the leakage. Conclusions: We did not attempt to closely approach or try to repair the esophageal leakage. We believe that this is an important tip for these situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine the feasibility of laparoscopic revision surgery in children following previous open and laparoscopic antireflux operations. To give an objective overview about this topic, we analyzed the outcome of 15 children (8 girls and 7 boys) who had undergone attempted laparoscopic revision between 4 and 72 months (median 16 months) after a previous antireflux operation. Seven patients had previously undergone an open antireflux procedure (4 Nissen fundoplication; 3 Thal procedure) and 8 a laparoscopic procedure (5 Nissen; 3 Toupet's procedure). Two of these children were mentally handicapped. The indications for revision were: recurrent reflux, 5; valve migration, 5; valve dismount, 5. Eight procedures comprised construction of a new Nissen fundoplication and in 7 cases a Toupet's procedure was performed. Revision was successfully completed laparoscopically in 10 cases, 7 of 8 patients following a previous laparoscopic procedure and in 3 of 7 following a previous open operation. Operating time ranged between 70 and 140 minutes (median 90 minutes). No perioperative complications occurred in either group. All patients were discharged within 3 to 4 days after the redo procedure. Follow-up time varied between 6 months and 7 yrs. Preoperative symptoms were relieved in all patients and all antireflux medication has been discontinued, except in two cases that still had rare symptoms. Although technically challenging, laparoscopic reoperation for recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease can be performed safely and with good results, in the hands of experienced endoscopic surgeons. Reoperation is likely to be more difficult following failure of an open procedure than after failure of a laparoscopic one. Concerning the type of procedure, redo surgery is more difficult to perform after Nissen's than after Toupet's or Thal's procedure., (Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy has been introduced recently as an alternative to conventional open repair in children. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of this minimally invasive approach., Methods: A total of 933 laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphies were performed on 666 children (597 boys and 69 girls), ranging in age from 3 weeks to 14 years (median, 3.2 years). A 5-mm laparoscope was placed through an umbilical incision, and two 2-mm or 3-mm needle drivers were inserted through the lateral abdominal wall. The neck of the sac was closed with a 4-0 monofilament suture. The needle was inserted directly through the abdominal wall, and removed together with the trocar. Only the umbilical fascia was closed with an absorbable suture. No skin sutures were applied., Results: A total of 911 indirect inguinal hernia sacs were closed (337 right, 172 left, 402 bilateral) and 22 direct inguinal hernias were repaired (14 boys, 3 girls; 11 right, 3 left, 4 bilateral). The median operating time was 22 minutes (range, unilateral, 7 to 45 min; bilateral, 9 to 51 min). With experience, this time gradually decreased. There were no intraoperative complications. The contralateral asymptomatic processus was unexpectedly open on the left side in 137 of the boys (23%) and 10 of the girls (15%), and on the right side in 131 of the boys (22%) and 21 of the girls (32%). In 16% of the children, the final procedure was modified on the basis of the anatomic findings. No hernia was found in 13 children (1.9%). The recurrence rate was 3.4% (follow-up time ranged from 2 months to 7 years). Hydroceles were observed in 4 children, and a subtle change in testicular position and size was noted in one boy., Conclusions: Laparoscopic inguinal repair in children proved safe and reproducible, although the recurrence rate was slightly higher than with the open approach. However, laparoscopy allows easy and precise identification of the type of defect and its correction. In this series, the incidence of direct inguinal hernias was higher, and the incidence of a patent contralateral processus vaginalis was lower than previously reported., (Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.)

Background: Very few children need gastroesophageal antireflux surgery during their first year of life; hence, no series has been published so far. The authors report their experience in 3 centers., Methods: From January 1993 to December 1998, 36 infants between 23 days and 13 months of age, suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), underwent surgery by a laparoscopic approach. The patients' weights ranged from 2.4 to 8.5 kg. Preoperative diagnostic studies included esophagograms, manometries, endoscopies, and pH-metries. Fifteen babies (41.6%) had associated anomalies, and 10 (27.7%) were neurologically impaired. Thirty-six laparoscopic fundoplications were performed according to either Toupet's procedure (17 of 36), Rossetti's (10 of 36), Nissen's (8 of 36) or Lortat-Jacob's (1 of 36). Four infants previously had undergone a gastrostomy, whereas 6 needed one during the antireflux procedure., Results: There was no mortality in our series. Three infants (8.3%) had an intraoperative complication: 1 lesion of a diaphragmatic vessel, 1 pneumothorax, and 1 case of severe hiatal hernia requiring conversion to open surgery. During the median follow-up of 22 months, 4 redo procedures were performed (11.1%)., Conclusions: This experience shows the feasibility of laparoscopic fundoplication even in children below 1 year of age. An accurate preoperative diagnostic study is mandatory, because 50% of these patients presented associated anomalies. A long and accurate follow-up is necessary to evaluate long-term results and detect possible complications, which can occur as late as 1 year after surgery. In addition, we believe that redo antireflux surgery is possible by the laparoscopic approach without major difficulties, based on our larger experience with older children., (Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.)