Our preliminary experience shows that the results of the laparoscopic approach are comparable to those of the open approach. However, the important advantages of laparoscopy over the open approach are its minimal invasiveness and precision of intervention. Moreover, laparoscopy allows treatment of other intra-abdominal pathological conditions using the same anesthesia, as in 10 patients in our series. We believe that ligating the testicular veins and artery is preferable to ligating the testicular veins only, even if the incidence of hydrocele is not negligible after the Palomo procedure.
Our study shows that pediatric laparoscopic urological surgery has an acceptable rate of complications with no mortality. We believe that routine use of open laparoscopy in pediatric patients is a key factor to help avoid complications. Most complications can be avoided with surgeon and team experience, together with proper compliance with the indications for surgery.
We believe that the routine use of open laparoscopy in pediatric patients is a key factor to avoiding complications related to the Veress needle and blind introduction of the first trocar. Moreover, the surgeon's laparoscopic experience, the correct indications for laparoscopic surgery, and the verification of the laparoscopic equipment before surgery are also important rules to follow to reduce the incidence of complications. In the beginning, it is preferable to have the assistance of an expert laparoscopic surgeon to decrease the complications related to the learning curve period.
The role of MIS in tumor resection for children is currently limited, but may be used in individual cases when the preoperative workup shows it to be feasible. Its indication is strictly dependent on the thoracoscopic experience of the surgeon and the tumor site for preoperative imaging techniques. When the indication for thoracoscopy is correct, this approach has high therapeutic applicability (65.4% in our series). Our preliminary experience shows that careful patient selection and an appropriate level of technical skill make thoracoscopy a reasonable and safe option for the treatment of pediatric malignancies.
Our preliminary experience shows that the results of the laparoscopic approach are comparable to those of the open approach. However, the important advantages of laparoscopy over the open approach are its minimal invasiveness and precision of intervention. Moreover, laparoscopy allows treatment of other intra-abdominal pathological conditions using the same anesthesia, as in 10 patients in our series. We believe that ligating the testicular veins and artery is preferable to ligating the testicular veins only, even if the incidence of hydrocele is not negligible after the Palomo procedure.
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