GENERAL PEDIATRIC SURGERY
Pediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery involving the surgery of fetuses, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Many pediatric surgeons practice at children’s hospitals.
A pediatric surgeon usually devotes of his or her practice to the surgical care of children. He or she must have graduated from medical school, and completed five years of postgraduate General Surgery training in an accredited training program. Pediatric surgeons must then complete an additional accredited two-year fellowship program in Pediatric Surgery. Pediatric surgeons have completed a general surgery residency (medicine), then complete two more years of subspecialty fellowship training before they are eligible to take the board examination for official subspecialty certification.
Pediatric surgeons concentrate on the special surgical problems of children. We care for infants, children, and adolescents, and also help to counsel parents expecting a baby who may have been diagnosed before birth with a surgical problem. Pediatric surgeons are experienced in caring for the wide variety of problems children may have, ranging from hernias or appendicitis to cancer or serious congenital anomalies.
Common Pediatric Diseases That May Require Pediatric Surgery Include:
- Cystic hygroma
- Esophageal atresia
- Tracheoesophageal fistula
- Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
- Intestinal atresia
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Meconium plugs
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Imperforate anus
- Undescended testes
- Omphalocele
- Gastroschisis
- Hernias
- Chest wall deformities
- Neuroblastoma
- Wilms’ tumor
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Liver tumors
- Teratomas
Types of Pediatric Surgery in India:
- Major surgery
- Minor surgery
- Elective surgery
- Required surgery
- Emergency surgery
Major surgery A surgery is “major” if it involves the head, neck, chest or abdomen, because it can greatly affect the way the body functions. Recovery time for major surgery can be lengthy and may involve a stay in intensive care or at least several days in the hospital.
Minor surgery A surgery is called “minor” if the estimated recovery time is short and a child rapidly returns to her usual activities. Complications from minor surgeries are rare.
Elective surgery An elective procedure may not be essential for your child’s health, but you may decide your child should undergo it to enhance or preserve his quality of life. It doesn’t necessarily have to be done immediately.
Required surgery A surgery is called “required” if it must be done to ensure the quality of your child’s life.
Emergency surgery Surgeons will perform emergency surgery to correct a life-threatening medical condition, such as a congenital heart malformation or internal organs damaged in an automobile accident.
Pediatric Cardiology in India: Apollo Hospitals in India
Apollo has one of the most advanced and specialized Pediatric Cardiology Departments in the world.
Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery deals with heart conditions in babies (including unborn babies), children and adolescents. Structural, functional, and rhythm-related problems of the heart are dealt with by this Department.
Congenital Heart Defects – heart defects present at birth – are the most common of all heart conditions in children. In India, there are 44,000 live births every day. Out of these, 400 children are born with heart disease. About 8 of these 400 children are lucky enough to undergo treatment for correction of heart defects. The rest of the 392 children go untreated. The Pediatric Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery unit at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad is especially renowned for providing the best cardiac care to children.
The team at this unit is driven by deep knowledge and commitment. It is dedicated to research and developing techniques that challenge the best the world has to offer in Pediatric Cardiology.
Apollo’s Pediatric Centre has transfigured surgeries with its professionalism and quality. It offers a contemporary approach in a soothing and aesthetic environment. Apollo hospitals have the obligatory skill to treat the above diseases. The Hospitals with their highly skilled Surgeries are at par to international standards. They treat deformities, injury related conditions and personal grooming requirements. A complete range of treatments is delivered by highly qualified and experienced orthopedic professionals.
