LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF SMALL-BOWEL OCC LUSION IN CHILDREN

From 1992 to 1996, 15 children with an acute small bowel obstruction w ere treated by laparoscopy. There were 10 boys and 5 girls between 6 t o 15 years. They had been formerly operated in the neonatal period (4 cases), for appendectomy (9 cases), or ureteronephrectomy for Wilm's t umor (1 case). Thirteen times it was the first obstruction and twice t he second or more (but never treated by surgery). Conversion in laparo tomy was necessary in 4 cases. There were no operative complication. W e noted a quick recovery (12 hours), an early discharge (3.5 days), an d a good postoperative confort. Laparoscopic viscerolysis for acute sm all bowel obstructions seems to be a good treatment in children.