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Pediatric Surgery

Overview
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The pediatric surgery team can perform many different kinds of procedures depending on what you and your specialist decide is right for your child. The following list includes most, but not all, of these procedures:

Abdominal Surgical Problems

The abdomen is the area between the chest and hips containing the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen. Surgery could be performed on the abdomen if the child’s appendix needs to be removed (the most common abdominal surgery) or because another organ is injured.

Abdominal Wall

The abdominal wall is the lining of the abdomen, which contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and liver among other things. Problems that can affect the abdominal wall include hernias, which happen when a section of intestine bulges through an opening in the abdominal wall, or undescended testes.

Laparoendoscopic Surgery

Laparoendoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery done through small, half-inch incisions and assisted with a tiny video camera. This surgery can make the child’s experience less painful, it can reduce blood loss and the recovery time in the hospital. Laparoendoscopic surgery can also be done in a single site (laparoendoscopic single-site surgery or LESS). Other names for it include belly-button surgery, single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and virtually scar-less surgery.

Newborn Malformations

Every parent hopes their child will be born without complications, but for those whose newborns have malformations (an abnormal shape or function of a part of the body), the pediatric surgery department can provide expert care. Newborn malformations may include malformations of the lung or upper airway, hernias, intestinal obstructions (blockages in the intestines) or malformations of the rectum among others. Often, babies who need this intense attention are admitted into a special area of the hospital called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). For more detailed information, see the High-Risk Newborn Topic Index.

Non-Cardiac Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgery is surgery that is in the chest area. Non-cardiac thoracic surgery is in the chest area but not on the heart. It could include surgery on the lungs, esophagus and other organs in the chest as well as the bony structure and tissues of the chest.

Pediatric Malignant Solid Tumor Management

For children who have a malignant (cancerous) tumor, University Health Care has special, state of the art care facilities. You will be able to work with highly trained specialists who will compassionately care for your child. These pediatric cancer specialists not only study cutting edge treatments and research but also have the training they need to help a child through the treatment process.

Managing solid tumors means managing tumors that are masses of cancer cells (liquid tumors are the opposite of solid tumors and occur in the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes). The most common solid tumors in children are often in the brain. Solid tumors are also named for the type of cells that form them. Examples of solid tumors are sarcomas, carcinomas and lymphomas.

Pediatric Benign Tumor Management

Benign tumors do not contain cancer cells, and, usually, once they are removed, do not reoccur. Pediatric specialists will work to make sure these tumors will not affect your child’s normal body functions and that they are treated in the best way possible.

Transplantation

Transplantation refers to organ transplants. The University Health Care pediatric specialists can perform transplantations for the liver and kidneys. These transplants are handled delicately so that the child gets the best quality treatment possible.

Trauma Team Management

If a traumatic injury or accident occurs, pediatric surgeons work carefully with other trauma and pediatric specialists to give immediate and quality care to the child.

Vascular Access Procedures

A vascular access procedure happens when a thin plastic tube (a catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel. This procedure can be used to deliver medication and nutrients to a patient’s, in this case a child’s, bloodstream. Examples of some of the other reasons for a vascular access procedure in a child are the following: