Collection
Laparoscopic Neonatal and Abdominal Surgery
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
For vessels of this size, this maneuver is extremely efficient as it allows for rapid sealing and division of the mesentery without the repeated placement of endoscopic scissors. Laparoscopic Intestinal Duplication Cyst Repair - Technique · 2:55
Laparoscopic Jejunal Atresia Repair - Technique
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Dr. Steven Rothenberg describes his technique for laparoscopic repair of jejunal atresia with apple peel defect. Key steps to the procedure include Veress entry, identification of the proximal and distal segments of jejunum, mobilization a
video5:55 · Nov 2018
Technique: Laparoscopic Repair of Duodenal Atresia, Ladd's Procedure, and...
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Laparoscopic Repair of Duodenal Atresia, Ladd's Procedure, and Meckel's Diverticulectomy in a Newborn using Just Right stapler by Dr. Steven Rothenberg.
video15:01 · Nov 2018
Malrotation Infant
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Surgical technique video demonstrating laparoscopic Ladd procedure in an infant with malrotation presenting with bilious vomiting. Shows systematic division of Ladd bands, duodenal mobilization, bowel derotation, and appendectomy using 3mm
video9:22 · May 2026
Malrotation and Volvulus with Trinity
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Surgical technique video demonstrating laparoscopic reduction of midgut volvulus with Ladd procedure in a 12-year-old with chronic symptoms and acute obstruction. Shows systematic band division, bowel derotation, mesenteric widening, and ap
video8:02 · May 2026
Laparoscopic Intestinal Duplication Cyst Repair - Technique
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Dr. Steven Rothenberg describes his technique for laparoscopic treatment of an intestinal duplication cyst. His technique involves running of the bowel to identify the cyst, opening of the mesentery distal and proximal to the cyst with a ve
video4:58 · Nov 2018
The preferred timing is to perform this operation in the newborn period prior to discharge to home, though it is acceptable if the child tolerates rectal irrigations to let them grow. Technique: Laparoscopic Assisted Pull-through for Hirschsprung's Disease · 4:35
Technique: Laparoscopic Assisted Pull-through for Hirschsprung's Disease
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Laparoscopic Assisted Pull-through for Hirschsprung's Disease using a Just Right sealer by Dr. Steven Rothenberg.
video10:48 · Nov 2018
Technique: Laparoscopic-Assisted Pull-through for Imperforate Anus
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Laparoscopic-Assisted Pull-through for high imperforate anus by Dr. Steven Rothenberg.
video15:14 · Nov 2018
Technique: Laparoscopic Appendectomy (Two incision)
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Two incision laparoscopic appendectomy by Dr. Steven Rothenberg.
video · Nov 2018
Narrated Dipes appy
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video3:23 · May 2026
Trinity Ileal resection w narration
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video10:50 · May 2026
NEC small bowel stricture
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video7:47 · May 2026
open bowel anast stapled
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video · May 2026
Narrated R Adrenal Coolseal
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video8:34 · May 2026
Neuroblastoma Paracaval
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video · May 2026
Robotic hernia repair
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
article · May 2026
Malone & Mitrofanoff NCH
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Surgical content by Dr. Steve Rothenberg — Abdominal Surgery
video5:13 · May 2026
Featured picks for families are being prepared — the summaries above are written for you.
For patients & families
When a baby is born with a blockage or problem in the intestines, surgeons can sometimes fix it using tiny cameras and instruments inserted through small openings in the belly — a technique called laparoscopy [e748-c3, e750-c4, e760-c3]. Doctors have used this approach to repair several different conditions: intestinal blockages where parts of the bowel didn't form correctly [e748-c1, e748-c6], fluid-filled cysts growing alongside the intestine [e750-c1, e750-c6], a condition called Hirschsprung's disease where nerve cells are missing from part of the colon [e760-c1, e760-c4], problems with the rectum not connecting properly to the outside [e762-c1, e762-c8], and twisted intestines that can cut off blood supply [e11941-c2, e11941-c6]. The surgeons work carefully to reconnect healthy sections of bowel, remove damaged tissue, and ensure everything is positioned correctly [e748-c15, e750-c15, e760-c24]. These procedures typically take between 70 and 90 minutes [e760-c26, e762-c14, e11941-c14]. Babies often start eating within a day after surgery and recover well [e760-c27, e760-c28, e748-c23]. The doctors emphasize that modern techniques make these operations quite safe, even in newborns .
When a baby is born with a blockage or problem in the intestines, surgeons can sometimes fix it using tiny cameras and instruments inserted through small openings in the belly — a technique called laparoscopy [e748-c3, e750-c4, e760-c3]. Doctors have used this approach to repair several different conditions: intestinal blockages where parts of the bowel didn't form correctly [e748-c1, e748-c6], fluid-filled cysts growing alongside the intestine [e750-c1, e750-c6], a condition called Hirschsprung's disease where nerve cells are missing from part of the colon [e760-c1, e760-c4], problems with the rectum not connecting properly to the outside [e762-c1, e762-c8], and twisted intestines that can cut off blood supply [e11941-c2, e11941-c6]. The surgeons work carefully to reconnect healthy sections of bowel, remove damaged tissue, and ensure everything is positioned correctly [e748-c15, e750-c15, e760-c24]. These procedures typically take between 70 and 90 minutes [e760-c26, e762-c14, e11941-c14]. Babies often start eating within a day after surgery and recover well [e760-c27, e760-c28, e748-c23]. The doctors emphasize that modern techniques make these operations quite safe, even in newborns .
Expert statements from the recordings in this collection.
Technique: Laparoscopic Assisted Pull-through for Hirschsprung's Disease
The JRS 3 millimeter sealer is used as the primary mode of dissection for laparoscopic-assisted pull-through in Hirschsprung's disease.
The patient was a newborn weighing 3.2 kg.
A super umbilical ring incision is used for small newborns to place the Veress needle and 4 mm trocar, with care taken to avoid the umbilical vein by placing the trocar just to the left of midline.
A full thickness biopsy is obtained from the muscular wall approximately 5 centimeters above the transition zone between the distal sigmoid and rectum.
The key to mesenteric dissection is staying exactly adjacent to the colon wall to prevent injury to surrounding structures.
Because all heat and energy remains between the jaws of the sealer, there is no danger in injuring surrounding structures by brushing aside them with the sealer.
Small perforating vessels are grasped, sealed, and then pulled down off the rectal wall during circumferential dissection.
Dissection at the peritoneal reflection uses the same technique of grasping the peritoneal reflection and small perforating vessels and pulling them down off the colon.
The 3 millimeter sealer allows dissection of vessels and mobilization of tissue around the colon without risk of pass-pointing, unlike the 3 millimeter hook which was previously the preferred mode of dissection.
Using the 3 mm sealer eliminates the need for instrument changes with the right hand throughout the case.
Carrying the laparoscopic dissection down to the pelvic floor limits the amount of transanal dissection necessary and decreases the risk of injury to the external sphincter.
Because there is no energy spread from the tips of the 3 mm sealer, it is safe for the instrument to be adjacent to the bladder, vagina, prostate, and other surrounding structures.
Energy being only between the jaws of the instrument diminishes the risk of injury to the ureters, vas deferens, and other vital structures.
The preferred timing is to perform this operation in the newborn period prior to discharge to home, though it is acceptable if the child tolerates rectal irrigations to let them grow.
Expert opinion4:35
With current technology, the operation is considered extremely safe in the newborn period.
Expert opinion4:45
For the transanal dissection, traction stitches are placed inside the anus just proximal to the dentate line and then out to the skin, slightly inverting the anus so the dentate line can be clearly visualized.
Between 4 to 8 sutures are used to evert the anus.
A mucosal incision is made with hand cautery 2 to 3 millimeters proximal to the dentate line and crypt.
The key to the transanal portion is that it should all take place externally to the anus.
The laparoscopic dissection down to the pelvic floor allows the transanal dissection to be carried out outside of the anus, so no retractors are ever placed within the external sphincter which may cause these muscles to be damaged.
Sharp dissection is preferred to mobilize the submucosal space, although blunt dissection can also be used.
Expert opinion7:05
Performing the dissection external to the anus protects the external sphincter muscles and improves the chance of good continence.
The colon is divided 5 to 6 centimeters above the biopsy site, which is 5 centimeters above the obvious transition zone.
The coloanal anastomosis is performed with 12 to 16 sutures total, placing 3 to 4 additional sutures in each quadrant after the initial 4 quadrant stay sutures.
Vicryl suture is used for the anastomosis in newborns.
This operation took 70 minutes.
The child was left without a nasogastric tube and started stooling the morning following surgery.
The patient was started on feeds less than 24 hours after the procedure.
The anastomosis is calibrated with a 12 Hegar dilator at the end of the procedure.
Gauze packing is placed in the anus at the end of the procedure.