Laparoscopy combined with conventional operative techniques.

In order to establish minimal invasive methods further, it should be guaranteed that laparoscopy is not only performed in a few pediatric surgical centers. A simple approach to gain experience would be the performance of diagnostic laparoscopy. However, benefit could be increased if the surgeon combines the minimal invasive laparoscopy to establish the diagnosis with the conventional surgical technique to continue. This approach for example applies to complicated cases of appendicitis. In a combined procedure, even bowel resections and tumor extirpations can be performed with minimal invasion. In twenty-seven cases--11 appendicectomies, 14 resections of cystic ovarian tumors and 2 resections of Meckel's diverticulum--we applied this technique and found no complications so far. The surgical method presented is convenient and safe.