Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery: A Better Approach to Surgery for Kids

Since it began in 2001, the minimally invasive surgery program at UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital has received recognition worldwide for improving surgery for children and adolescents. In many cases, minimally invasive surgery is the best surgical solution because it causes as little disruption as possible to a child’s body.

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What is Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery? (MIPS)

Minimally invasive surgery requires smaller instruments and fewer incisions than traditional surgical methods. Children heal faster and have fewer visible signs of their procedures. In most cases, minimally invasive surgery preserves the opportunity for children to resume their favorite activities, regain normal range of motion and even have children of their own one day. Not everyone thinks that far into your child’s future — but our pediatric surgeons do.

Minimally invasive surgery offers advantages over conventional surgery:

  • Less injury to tissue
  • Less post-operative pain
  • Reduced blood loss
  • Less scarring for body-conscious adolescents
  • Shorter hospital stays
  • Faster recovery and return to normal activities

Surgeons perform minimally invasive surgeries through small ports inserted through keyhole-size incisions in the chest (thoracoscopy) or abdomen (laparoscopy). A micro camera called an endoscope is placed through the ports and gives the surgeon a high definition picture inside the body. Other instruments adapted for a child’s body, with tips the size of a pen, enable surgeons to complete the procedure. This method is in stark contrast to open surgery where a long incision is made, much healthy tissue is destroyed and recovery is longer and more painful.

Benefits of Pediatric Minimally-Invasive Surgery

Patients experience less pain, blood loss and scarring along with quicker recovery times after minimally invasive surgery. 

Infographic showing the benefits of minimally-invasive surgery

Why Choose Comer Children's for Minimally Invasive Surgery?

For surgeons, becoming proficient at minimally invasive techniques means acquiring new surgical skills and thinking about pediatric problems in an entirely different way. Pediatric general surgeons at Comer Children’s have performed thousands of minimally invasive procedures with excellent results for their young patients.

The field of minimally invasive surgery is rapidly changing and holds even greater future promise for improved pediatric surgery. Families are welcome to discuss the minimally invasive approach with their child’s surgeon. When it is in your child’s best interests, your surgeon will also present the possibility.

Meet Our Pediatric General Surgeons

Under the expert clinical leadership of Grace Mak, MD, our team provides the highest level of pediatric surgical care for children of all ages.

Request a Pediatric Surgery Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 773-702-6169 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer or transfer a patient, call 877-UC-KID-MD (877-825-4363)

 
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By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.