The Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at Children's provides high quality surgical care for children from birth to age 21. Minimally invasive surgery for children and teens is a substitute for traditional surgeries. Traditional surgeries require larger cuts and have a longer recovery time for the child. At Children's, we use methods - often called laparoscopic or thoracoscopic surgery—to minimize the pain and discomfort of surgery for children.
With minimally invasive surgery, surgeons use an endoscope to go into a child's body and send images of it to a TV monitor. The surgeon then watches the TV monitor to guide him through the surgery. To perform the surgery, the surgeon uses small, thin tools that go through small cuts in a child's body.
Learn about minimally invasive surgery common procedures and frequently asked questions.
Technology
Our team has access to the da Vinci Surgical System, which makes more complex surgeries easier to perform. The system is controlled by a surgeon from a console located in the operating room. A tiny camera is inserted that uses two lenses to give the doctor 3-D vision. The system also adjusts the surgeon's movements to work on the smaller scale, using more precise micromovements with two working arms.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Better outcomes including:
- Quicker recovery time
- Less scarring
- Shorter hospital stays
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Less pain for patient