LAPAROSCOPIC VERSUS OPEN ILEAL POUCH-ANAL ANASTOMOSIS IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Restorative Proctocolectomy (RP) with Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis (IPAA) represents the gold-standard surgical treatment for patients requiring total colonic and rectal removal due to ulcerative colitis, familial adenomatous polyposis, and other colonic pathologies. The laparoscopic approach (L-IPAA) has been increasingly utilized in pediatric and young adult populations to enhance recovery and reduce morbidity; however, its benefits over open surgery (O-IPAA) remain uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to compare outcomes between L-IPAA and O-IPAA, focusing on complications, operative time, and length of hospital stay (LOS).