Abstract
Minimally invasive surgery is now an option to patients as light as 1.2 kg, extending the benefits of small incisions, faster recoveries, decreased pain, and more precise procedures in critically ill neonates. This article provides a review of the historical development of minimally invasive surgery and an overview of the equipment involved, identifies the roles of the neonatal and perioperative nurse, and briefly describes several minimally invasive surgery procedures currently performed in the neonatal population.