Perioperative management for laparoscopic repair of congenital duodenal atresia

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery has been applied even to neonates. To examine the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic repair of neonatal congenital duodenal atresia, we compared the 5 laparoscopic cases with the 5 conventional surgical cases. METHODS: The charts were retrospectively reviewed to investigate the anesthetic management, perioperative status and complications in the most recent 5 cases each of laparoscopic and conventional surgeries. RESULTS: There was a tendency to avoid laparoscopic repair in the patients with congenital heart disease. There were no intraoperative complications in both groups. Laparoscopic group exhibited less blood loss but longer operation time. In the two out of five laparoscopic cases re-operation was required due to technical issues, and the group needed a longer period before starting enteral feeding and longer hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Up to this time, laparoscopic repair of congenital duodenal atresia exhibited few advantages over conventional open repair.