Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery

Every child and every surgery is different. While your child’s particular experience will depend on his or her age, condition and type of surgery, here is a general idea of what you can expect. We will:

1. Administer anesthesia to your child. He or she will be asleep during the entire procedure and not feel any pain. We guarantee 24/7 access to a pediatric anesthesiologist. Learn more about anesthesia at Children’s National.
2. Make a few small incisions (rather than a large abdominal or chest incision used during traditional surgery).
3. Insert miniature surgical instruments, such as an endoscope, into the incision. Endoscopes are narrow, thin tubes with a light and camera attached to the end. If we are performing a robotic surgery, we will use the da Vinci® Surgical System.
4. Perform the surgery.
5. Remove the instruments and close the incisions.
6. Transfer your child to one of our dedicated recovery units.
7. Discuss any postoperative instructions with you before your child’s discharge.

Learn more about surgical endoscopy at Children's National.

A minimally invasive procedure provides many benefits. These include:

• Less pain
• Shorter hospitalization
• Shorter recovery time
• Less chance of infection and bleeding
• Smaller scars

While these benefits apply to both adults and children who undergo minimally invasive surgery, there are further benefits for children. Because children’s bodies are small and still developing, minimally invasive procedures provide a safer surgical experience, protecting children’s future growth. With minimally invasive surgery, there is:

• Less chance of postoperative complications such as bowel obstruction
• Less risk of spine and back complications, such as scoliosis or shoulder weakness

Our team has vast experience in performing minimally invasive procedures. We are constantly working to expand the procedures we can perform using a minimally invasive approach. Features of our program include:

• Renowned surgeons. Our surgeons are leaders in the field of minimally invasive surgery and are involved in training other pediatric surgeons. We have special expertise in neonatal minimally invasive surgery and can repair complex abnormalities using minimally invasive techniques. Our team also includes pioneers in robotic-assisted surgery for infants, children, and teenagers.
• Expertise in surgery for newborns. Our depth of experience in neonatal laparoscopic surgery program sets us apart. We have the resources and skills to perform minimally invasive procedures on infants, even those requiring surgery immediately after birth. 
• Full spectrum of surgery. We are comfortable with all different types of minimally invasive procedures, as well as traditional, open surgery. You can feel confident that we are basing our treatment decision on our vast knowledge and experience. No matter what, we always have your child’s safety and health in mind.