A new simplified technique for needlescopic inguinal herniorrhaphy in children.

BACKGROUND: Needlescopic techniques have been used recently in repairing inguinal hernias (IHs), which made this type of surgery more feasible and less invasive. The technique is being developed further. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe and assess the results that can be achieved by using a new simplified technique (Reverdin needle) in needlescopic inguinal herniorrhaphy in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with symptomatic IH confirmed by clinical examination were subjected to elective needlescopic herniorrhaphy. One hundred fifty patients with 186 groin hernias, from 2 hospitals in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in the period from October 1999 to May 2002, were assigned to needlescopic inguinal herniorrhaphy using Reverdin needle. Reverdin needle was used to insert a purse-string suture around the internal inguinal ring to be tied extracorporeally. RESULTS: A total of 186 inguinal hernial defects in 150 children were repaired successfully. There were 130 males and 20 females with a mean age of 20.58 +/- 21 months (range, 8-96 months). Right-sided IH was present in 86 patients (57.33%); among these patients, an opened internal inguinal ring was found and repaired in 12 cases (8%). Left-sided IH was present in 30 (20%), bilateral hernia in 19 cases (12.67%), and recurrent IH in 20 cases (10%). The mean duration of surgery was 8.7 +/- 1.18 minutes for unilateral and 12.35 +/- 2 minutes for bilateral hernia repair. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 6 +/- 1.21 hours. CONCLUSION: The new technique had all the advantages of needlescopic herniorrhaphy in children (less invasive, less pain, short hospital stay) combined with the advantages of reduced operating time, simplicity, and feasibility. It may be preferable to the intracorporeal suturing and knot tying. However, it needs long-term follow-up.

Laparoscopic management of Meckel's diverticulum in children.

BACKGROUND: Rectal bleeding, recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting in children could present a diagnostic as well as therapeutic challenge. Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is one of the causes. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic management of MD. METHODS: The clinical data of 33 children admitted with rectal bleeding and/or recurrent abdominal pain with no identifiable cause were reviewed over a period of 8 years. There were 23 boys and 10 girls with a mean age of 5.12 +/- 2 years (range, 3-12 years). In 21 cases, MD was an incidental finding on laparoscopic appendectomy and symptomatic in 12 cases. Patients with rectal bleeding were subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy; colonoscopy, and technetium Tc 99m-labeled pertechnetate scan (MS). All patients were subjected to routine laboratory investigations and diagnostic laparoscopy. RESULTS: Of the 1200 appendectomies, incidental MD was found in 21 (1.9%) patients and symptomatic in 12 cases. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy did not show a bleeding source in 7 patients presented with bleeding per rectum. Four cases showed a positive MS uptake. Of these, 3 were found on laparoscopy to have an MD. Three cases showed a negative scan. Of these, 2 had an MD. In 5 cases with recurrent abdominal pain nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention, diagnostic laparoscopy revealed Meckel's diverticulitis in 3 cases and intussusception secondary to MD in 1 case. Laparoscopic Meckel's diverticulectomy and laparoscopic-assisted Meckel's diverticulectomy was done for 18 and 12 cases, respectively. Ectopic gastric mucosa was present in 13 cases (44%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is safe, cost-effective, and efficient for the diagnosis and definitive treatment of MD. Compared with conventional laparotomy, it has the advantage of precise operative diagnosis, less traumatic access, fewer intraoperative and postoperative complications, and shorter recovery period.