Surgical procedures have traditionally required adequate "exposure" of the diseased or infected organ, which usually means making an incision large enough to "externalize" the problem.  Most of the conditions which require surgery on internal organs do not involve the body wall itself, but it has to be "opened" nonetheless to provide exposure.  Opening the body wall leads to increased postoperative pain, fluid and heat loss, delayed recovery, potential incisional complications, paresthesia, (decreased skin sensitivity) and unsightly scar formation on the skin.  In addition, children and their parents are just plain frightened by the imagery the classic surgery evokes.

Recent advances in technology, equipment, and techniques have overcome this need to extensively open the body wall for some types of surgery. Known as laparoscopy, thorocoscopy, endoscopic surgery, or minimally invasive surgery, new concepts and equipment are applied to standard surgical procedures resulting in surgery which is less frightening, less painful, and cosmetically optimal while maintaining excellent safety and optimal results. Some surgeons minimize the cosmetic impact of a scar.  Some surgeons are not trained in laparoscopic techniques and will not offer them as an option or will not be able to provide documentation to support their experience such as training certificates, case numbers, or complication rates.