PEDIATRIC ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY - PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

82 endoscopic surgical procedures (abdominal: 77; thoracic: 5) were pe rformed by the same surgeon on 75 children aged from 1 month to 17 yea rs (median 8.1 years) during the two-year period from January 1991 to December 1992. Due to the multispecialization of the Children's Hospit al, a variety of pathologies were explored or treated with appendectom y accounting for 33% (27/82). There were no perioperative deaths. Thre e major complications occurred (1 post-appendectomy peritonitis, 1 hem orrhage during splenectomy and 1 post-operative occlusion). 14 patient s required conversion to open surgery. Indications for endoscopic expl oration of advanced lesions, prospective indications, and policy when confronted with a healthy appendix are discussed.