Pediatric Endosuite: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for Children at Georgia Regents Medical Center

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is rapidly becoming the surgery of choice for families and surgeons, when it is appropriate. As in adults, pediatric minimally invasive surgery allows children to heal faster, with less pain, less scarring and less risk of infection.

The Children's Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, recently opened a new high-tech endosuite, allowing pediatric surgeons to perform the most sophisticated operations in children through tiny “peepholes” instead of large incisions, resulting in shorter recovery and less pain.

The suite is part of the new Minimally Invasive Surgery Center for Children led by Dr. Walt Pipkin. Dr. Pipkin, who specializes in advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery techniques in children, is the only pediatric surgeon outside the Atlanta area performing these types of surgeries.

In the new endosuite, all equipment is ceiling-mounted and operated by a central computer. Included in the specialized equipment are tiny telescopes used to view the inside of the abdomen and chest. These telescopes connect to sophisticated monitors to allow surgeons to see interior structures at a larger and clearer size.

The monitors are mobile, allowing the OR staff to adjust them as needed to assist during the surgery. The number and orientation of the monitors means that no matter where surgeons look, they will have a comfortable view to guide them easily and safely during surgery.