Collection
Pediatric Robotic Surgery
Also covers: esophageal atresia
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Always talk to your child's care team about your child's situation.
Content of this collection
Robotic MALS surgery offers improved 3-dimensional visualization, flexibility and end or wrist motion for challenging angles, elimination of tremor, and scaling of motion for fine dissection in a limited space. Robotic-Assisted Release of the Median Arcuate Ligament for Pediatric MALS · 1:08
Robotic-Assisted Release of the Median Arcuate Ligament for Pediatric MALS
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Presented by Alejandra M Casar Berazaluce, MD; Alexander Gibbons, MD; and Jaimie D Nathan, MD from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center at the IPEG - International Pediatric Endosurgery Group 28th Annual Congress for Endosurgery in
video4:51 · Mar 2019
There is an important difference in learning curves between complex and basic robotic procedures, with colorectal surgeries requiring more time than cholecystectomy and pyeloplasty. — Johana Sosa Jurado, Johana Sosa Jurado, MD - Best of the Best in Pediatric Surgery 2024 · 2:45
Comparison of robotic versus thoracoscopic repair for congenital esophageal atresia
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New article you should know by Cecilia Gigena
"Comparison of robotic versus thoracoscopic repair for congenital esophageal atresia: a propensity score matching analysis "
Authors: Mengxin Zhang, Jinshi Huang, Wei Zhong, Xi Zhang, Yin
video0:56 · Feb 2024
Johana Sosa Jurado, MD - Best of the Best in Pediatric Surgery 2024
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Watch IBEROMERICANA's Dr. Johana Sosa Jurado's presentation on “Epidemiological study of pediatric robotic surgery at Carlos Andrade Marín Hospital” at the 2024 Best of the Best in Pediatric Surgery event!
Moderators: Todd Ponsky, Cecili
video5:38 · Feb 2024
Heat 1 Winner: Dariusz Patkowski, MD, PhD - Best of the Best in Pediatric Surgery 2024
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Watch the voting from the first heat!
Presentations from heat one:
Prof. Shilpa Sharma: Exploring alternative pathway of stem cell proliferation for hepatic regeneration by partial liver resection in extra hepatic biliary atresia.
video2:30 · Feb 2024
Adult colorectal surgeons need to understand what Hirschsprung disease and anorectal malformation patients might need when they are 50 years old with complications like rectal prolapse. — Marc Levitt, Colorectal Quiz: Episode 50 - 16th Annual European Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, October 2025 - What did we learn? · 15:29
Colorectal Quiz: Episode 50 - 16th Annual European Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction Conference, Stockholm, Sweden, October 2025 - What did we learn?
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In this special 50th episode of the Colorectal Quiz Podcast, Dr. Marc Levitt and an international panel including Filipa Jalles, MD, Lindsey Clarke, PA-C and Meghan Mesa, BSN, RN, CPN review key takeaways from the 16th European Pediatric Co
podcast24:17 · Mar 2026
Update Course Rewind 2025: Robotics in Pediatric Surgery: Which indications benefit the most?
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This video series recaps highlights from the 13th Annual Pediatric Surgery Update Course. Dr. Juan Gurria discusses the pros and cons of robotic surgery in pediatric patients, comparing it to laparoscopic surgery, and exploring its future.
video4:35 · Jun 2026
Featured picks for families are being prepared — the summaries above are written for you.
Expert statements from the recordings in this collection.
Comparison of robotic versus thoracoscopic repair for congenital esophageal atresia
The study is a retrospective multi-center study done in China
After propensity score matching, there were 126 patients total, 63 in each group
Robotic surgery had longer operative time compared to thoracoscopic repair
Robotic surgery had shorter anastomotic time compared to thoracoscopic repair
The robotic group had lower anastomotic strictures compared to thoracoscopic repair
The robotic group had lower unplanned readmissions within 2 years post-op compared to thoracoscopic repair
Robotic surgery appears to be a good option for esophageal atresia repair
Robotic-Assisted Release of the Median Arcuate Ligament for Pediatric MALS
Median arcuate ligament syndrome is a chronic abdominal pain syndrome characterized by epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting.
The pain in MALS is usually worse after meals and eventually leads to anorexia and weight loss.
MALS is a diagnosis of exclusion hypothesized to be caused by compression of the celiac artery and celiac plexus by the median arcuate ligament, a fibrous band at the intersection of the left and right diaphragmatic crura.
Multiple imaging modalities are useful in identifying celiac compression for MALS diagnosis, including CTA, MRA, and conventional angiography.
Dynamic flow changes in MALS can be evaluated by duplex ultrasound, with flow restriction worsening during expiration due to changes in the position of the diaphragm.
Due to the presence of a mechanical constriction, the treatment for MALS is surgical release.
Robotic MALS surgery offers improved 3-dimensional visualization, flexibility and end or wrist motion for challenging angles, elimination of tremor, and scaling of motion for fine dissection in a limited space.
Expert opinion1:08
In robotic MALS surgery, dissection is approached through a window in the lesser omentum.
Early identification of the celiac trifurcation is a key step in robotic MALS surgery.
Ganglionectomy is performed as encountered during the dissection of fibrous bands and perivascular connective tissue in MALS surgery.
Dissection in MALS surgery proceeds from distal to proximal towards the origin of the celiac axis.
Some MALS cases require dissection of right crural fibers to reach the base of the celiac artery.
Division of the median arcuate ligament can be accomplished by standard hook electrocautery, bipolar energy devices, or a vessel sealing device.
Residual celiac trunk tortuosity may persist after initial median arcuate ligament release.
Dissection must continue along the anterior wall of the aorta down to the pre-adventitial plane from caudal to cranial for around 4 centimeters.
Circumferential dissection down to the pre-adventitial plane must be accomplished around the origins of the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery, the splenic artery, and the celiac trunk.
Significant improvement in celiac trunk appearance is observed after complete circumferential dissection.
Following proper surgical technique, median arcuate ligament release can be accomplished safely in the pediatric population with good results.
Expert opinion4:08
MALS surgery carries the risk of injury to important vessels due to proximity to critical anatomy.
With the exposure and visualization provided by the robotic approach, vascular complications in MALS surgery can be addressed minimally invasively.
Expert opinion4:25
An avulsion of a small aortic branch during MALS surgery can be controlled with steady pressure applied via suction irrigator, temporized with a clip, and repaired with pledgeted sutures intracorporeally.
Heat 1 Winner: Dariusz Patkowski, MD, PhD - Best of the Best in Pediatric Surgery 2024
Dr. Shilpa Sharma presented on exploring alternative pathways of stem cell perforation for hepatic regeneration by partial liver resection in extrahepatic biliary atresia
Dr. Toshio Haromaz presented analysis of potential risk factors for defecation problems and their bowel management based on long-term bowel function in patients with persistent cloaca