Table 2

Non-randomised comparisons of open and minimal access (MA) surgery

Procedure	Operation time			Complication rate			Time to discharge			Postoperative pain			Outcome			Recommendations for children
Procedure	Favour MA	Favour open	No difference	Favour MA	Favour open	No difference	Favour MA	Favour open	No difference	Favour MA	Favour open	No difference	Favour MA	Favour open	No difference	Recommendations for children
Heller’s operation		⁴⁶		⁴⁷		⁴⁶	⁴⁶			⁴⁶					^46, ⁴⁷	Laparoscopy preferable
Splenectomy		^14, ^15, ^48, ⁴⁹		^14, ^48– ⁵⁰		¹⁵	^14, ^15, ^48– ⁵⁰			^15, ⁵⁰						Laparoscopy preferable
Pyloromyotomy (⁸randomised)	⁸	⁹	^10, ^51– ⁵³		⁹	^8, ^10, ^51– ⁵⁴	⁸		^10, ^52, ⁵³						^8, ^10, ^51– ^53, ⁵⁵	Laparoscopy acceptable, but no proven advantage
Total colectomy ± pouch		^56– ⁵⁸				^56, ⁵⁸	^56– ⁵⁸		⁵⁹							Laparoscopy acceptable, but no proven advantage
Hirschsprung’s pull through			¹⁸	¹⁸			¹⁸					¹⁸				Laparoscopy preferable
Nephrectomy		^60, ⁶¹	⁶²				^60– ⁶²			⁶¹						Laparoscopy acceptable, but no proven advantage
Pyeloplasty			⁶³				⁶³			⁶³					^63, ⁶⁴	Laparoscopy acceptable, but no proven advantage