Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

What is pediatric surgery?

This is a subspecialty of surgery that involves diseases and conditions in fetuses, infants, children and adolescents that require surgical intervention. Pediatric surgeons diagnose, treat and manage the surgical needs of children. From minor endoscopic procedures to major and complex procedures such as repairing birth defects and separating conjoined twins.

Who is a pediatric surgeon?

This is a medical doctor who has specialized in diseases and disorders affecting fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents. They have special expertise and are uniquely equipped to treat children.

Pediatric surgeons know how to ask children medical questions in a way that does not intimidate them. They are patient, friendly and interactive. In addition, they decorate their offices and operating rooms with reading materials, videos and wall cartoons. The equipment used is specially designed for use by children.

Training

Pediatric surgeons are medical doctors who have had at least 4 years of medical school, 5 years of general surgery and at least 2 years of residency in pediatric surgery.

Subspecialties of pediatric surgery

Pediatric surgery can further be subdivided into subspecialties namely neonatal surgery and fetal surgery.

Other surgical specialties also have pediatric subspecialties which require the doctors to undertake additional training.

• Pediatric cardiothoracic: surgery on the child’s heart and lungs, which include heart and/or lung transplantation

• Pediatric neurosurgery: surgery on the child’s brain, spinal cord, central nervous system and peripheral nerves.

• Pediatric orthopedic surgery: surgery on the child’s muscles and bones

• Pediatric nephrological surgery: surgery on the child’s kidneys and ureters. This includes kidney transplantation.

• Pediatric urological surgery: surgery on the child’s urinary bladder and other structures below the kidney.

• Pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery: surgery on the child due to burns or congenital defects like cleft palate that does not involve the major organs

• Pediatric oncological surgery: surgery on the child to treat or manage cancer

• Pediatric hepatological and gastrointestinal surgery: surgery on the liver, stomach, and intestines which include liver and intestinal transplantation 

Conditions treated through pediatric surgery include:

• Hirschsprung's disease

• Meconium ileus

• Imperforate anus

• Achalasia

• Ambiguous genitalia

• Appendicitis

• Congenital malformations

• Cleft lip and palate

• Bilary dyskinesia

• Esophageal atresia and transoesophageal fistula

• Annular pancreas

• Bilary atresia

• Pancreatic cysts

• Pancreatitis

• Torsion of testicular appendix

• Breasts problems

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia

• Mediastinal cysts

• Chest wall deformities

• Lymphangioma

• Choledochal cysts

• Conjoined twins

• Torticollis

• Cystic hygroma

• Empyema

• Short bowel syndrome

• Umbilical hernia

• Meckel’s diverticulum

• Pyloric stenosis

• Epididymitis and orchitis

• Thyroiditis

• Gastroesophageal reflux

• Cholecystitis acalculous

• Pancreas divisum

• Cholelithiasis (gallstones)

• Parathyroid

• Gastrointestinal foreign bodies and bezoars

• Thyroid nodules

• Hepatoblastoma

• Hyperinsulinism

• Hyperthyroidism

• Inguinal hernia

• Umbilical polyps

• Intussusceptions

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

• Undescended testis

• Lung lesions

• Branchial cysts, sinuses, and remnants

• Malrotation and volvulus

• Anorectal malformations

• Small left colon syndrome

• Neck abnormalities

• Perirectal abscess

• Omphalocele

• Pancreas tumors

• Pectus carinatum

• Nectrotizing enterocolitis

• Pectus excavatum

• Pediatric cancer

• Spleen problems

• Neuroblastoma

• Testicular torsion

• Thyroid cancer

• Ulcerative colitis

• Wilm’s tumor