Current status of pediatric minimal access surgery at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital: A 3-year experience

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the current practices of pediatric minimal access surgery (MAS) in our institute over a period of 3 years. Background data Pediatric MAS has received recognition among pediatric surgeons and is currently being practiced in most centers worldwide. However, studies in our region are limited.
Materials and methods This study was carried out in Sultan Qaboos university  Hospital (Muscat, Oman). Medical records of all the children (0–12 years) who required abdominal, groin, or thoracic surgery between July 2009 and August 2012 were reviewed. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS v16.
Results A total of 904 abdominal, groin, and thoracicprocedures were performed in 790 children. In 257
 (28.4%) procedures [emergency = 164 (64%), elective= 93 ( 36%)] minimal access was utilized. In total, 152 (60%) patients were males, whereas 102 (40%) were female. The age of the patients ranged from 0 to 12 years, with an average of 7.02± 3.93 years (SD). Weight ranged from 2.8 to 61 kg [mean =23.74± 12.16 (SD)]. The MAS modality included 251 (97.6%) laparoscopic and six (2.4%) thoracoscopic procedures. Conversion to open and complication rates were 3.5 and 5.05%, respectively. Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 40 months, with an average of 18.05± 8.96 (SD).
Conclusion At Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, pediatric MAS is evolving as we are performing a number of diverse procedures at a comparable conversion and complication rate.

Keywords: current status, laparoscopy, minimal access surgery, thoracoscopy