ABSTRACT
Acknowledgments 257
References 257
1. INTRODUCTION
To treat diseased or anomalous anatomy, pediatric surgeons have traditionally had to
incise and dissect normal tissue planes to provide adequate surgical exposure. The appli-
cation of minimal access techniques has revolutionized the performance of many routine
pediatric surgical procedures by enabling the surgeon to access body cavities without sig-
nificantly traumatizing intervening fascia, muscles, and nerves. The use of small puncture
wounds and trocars has resulted in fewer complications (e.g., wound pain, physiologic
stress, infection, dehiscence, and incisional hernia) related to traditional open surgery
(1-5). Moreover, laparoscopic magnification and illumination can enhance surgical
exposure and anatomic visualization beyond that achieved with open operations.
