Keyhole surgery safe at Great Ormond Street

We believe that we do more laparoscopic procedures for children and more advanced procedures than anyone else in the UK, and possibly Europe. We can assure families that our procedures are safe.  For example there have been no insertion errors at the hospital in the last eight years, to our recollection.

We are a rare centre conducting controlled randomized trials in children in this area – we have done three -and there is substantial improvement in keyhole surgery in recovery time etc against the equivalent open procedure. Leading center to publish trials in this area.

We use the latest in HD visual equipment and optics, and the latest in energy devices to cauterize and coagulate tissues.

We often have to use reusable equipment as this is safe in our experience, cost effective and there is often no appropriate sized disposable instrument for our needs.  We work closely with the manufacturers and have developed different insertion techniques using direct vision to mitigate the safety issues.

(It is sometimes the case that paediatric equipment lags adult practice because the market is smaller and less profitable for the manufacturers).

We do have a maintenance contract and the audit is simply incorrect on this.

We do lack a world class integrated operating theatre for laparoscopic surgery and this is an issue for the department, but proposals are being discussed internally.

Professor Pierro ran a three day international training course in October which was heavily attended.

Contact information:

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Email: Coxs@gosh.nhs.uk
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