Minimaal invasieve chirurgie bij kinderen met urogenitale afwijkingen

Minimal invasive surgery (MIS) has developed tremendously during the last 20 years. Nowadays, a wide spectrum of ablative and reconstructive procedures in urology can be done in adults as well as in children. MIS has been proven to be a safe and effective technique regardless of the age of a patient, provided it is done by a well prepared team. MIS has its disadvantages and limitations. In this article the differences between adults and children in different aspects of MIS are described. The current status of MIS in paediatric urology is provided. The authors show their own experience in laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of congenital and acquired anomalies of the urogenital tract. The future of MIS in paediatric urology is briefly discussed. Proper training is crucial to reduce the complication rate and to improve the results. The numbers of laparoscopic procedures in childhood are relatively low. Therefore, there is a need for concentration of the MIS care to ensure surgeons’ exposition to higher volumes, which can improve the quality of care.