An operation in which the surgeon makes small "keyhole" incisions (cuts) in the belly and inserts thin metal sleeves, or tubes, called trocars through these incisions. The trocars allow surgeons to insert a small video camera and surgical instruments for the procedure. During a laparoscopic surgery, your child's belly is filled with carbon dioxide (CO2). This creates a space or a bubble in which to do surgery. Surgery is performed by watching a TV monitor and moving the surgical instruments from outside of your child's body.

The advantage of this technique is that surgeons don't need to cut through as much tissue as when they make a longer incision using traditional "open" surgery. This means your child will have a smaller scar and is likely to recover faster after surgery with less pain — and less need for narcotic pain killers that may have unpleasant side effects. In addition, children who have minimally invasive surgeries typically have shorter hospital stays. Laparoscopic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery.