2003 Volume 39 Issue 7 Pages 929-933
Purpose: To evaluate the operative outcome of laparoscopic surgery (LS) and compare it with that after open surgery (OS). Methods: The surgical records of 13 children with Meckel's divertuculum were reviewed retrospectively. Seven and six patients underwent wedge resection by OS and LS, respectively. The surgical findings and outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean operation time was 100 minutes in the OS group and 155 minutes in the LS group (p=0.1004). The mean blood loss was 11 ml in the OS group and 16 ml in the LS group (p=0.9431). The mean hospital stay was 9.7 days in the OS group and 8.7 days in the LS group (p=0.2840). No postoperative complications were encountered in either group. Regarding the port placement in LS, one port (5 mm) was placed in one patient, and two ports (5 mm and 3 mm) in three patients, and three ports (5 mm and 23 mm) in two patients. The two patients who underwent the 3-port procedure had recurrent intussusceptions and a small lesion with bleeding due to ectopic gastric mucosa, respectively. In the patient who underwent the one-port procedure, the diveticulum was located beneath the camera port, and it could be directly grasped after removal of the port. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is as effective as traditional laparotomy for treating Meckel's diverticulum. The most conspicuous advantage of the laparoscopic approach was cosmetics, which would lead to a better QOL throughout the lives of the patients.
