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28 July 2009
Miniature keyhole surgical equipment is being used for the first time by surgeons at The Royal London Hospital on babies as young as three weeks old.
The intricately designed forceps, needle holders, bowel clamps and hooks for blood vessels to coagulate blood, are just 3mm in diameter.
Using keyhole (laparoscopic) surgical methods avoids the baby needing open, more complicated invasive surgery and using tailor-made, smaller instruments means the surgeons can:
- get easier access to baby’s organs
- make smaller incisions which in turn means tiny cuts for the baby instead of one large scar from an invasive procedure
- avoid complications from large scarring which can leave troublesome adhesions and require future surgery.
As a result, the babies recover more quickly and normal family life can resume.
The Royal London carries out around 50 operations a year on babies with congenital abnormalities, needing major intestinal or chest surgery. These will now benefit from the new equipment.
Only a few other London hospitals have similar equipment. The three sets of paediatric laparoscopic equipment came to The Royal London in June thanks to a grant of £19,000 from Barts and The London Charity and a £5,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
Paediatric Consultant Surgeon Niall Jones, a gastrointestinal specialist at The Royal London Hospital, said: “Keyhole techniques have transformed many areas of surgery in recent years. While conventional keyhole instruments can be used with adults and most children, for very young infants under the age of six months or weighing less than 5kg, they are simply too big.
“The use of small, laparoscopic equipment has a number of advantages over open surgery. For example, we can avoid invasive access into the abdomen, which can be quite traumatic for a newborn.
“As the incisions are so small, babies recover quicker, can begin feeding normally quicker and can go home with their parents sooner; they will also have less noticeable scars as they get older.”
Mr Jones also treats newborn babies with less common conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux from the stomach) and congenital abnormalities in the chest and the abdomen.
Photo: A comparison of adult and baby keyhole laparoscopic surgical instruments
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