Pediatric Surgery: Choosing Your Pediatric Surgeon

Introduction

For parents, children are the most valuable assets. They leave no stones unturned to provide them with necessities and facilities. They make no compromise to their child’s health and provide with them the best healthcare facilities. They search for the best pediatric doctor and pediatric surgeon in India to restore their child’s health.

When You Require A Pediatric Surgeon?

Various diseases in children require surgery. The pediatric surgeon performs surgery in children. The pediatric surgeon generally treats infants, neonatal and adolescent patients. General surgeons can perform surgery on both the child and the adults. However, pediatric surgeons are believed to have more skills while handling, listening, diagnosis, and treating a child patient. They are more experienced in handling the child both psychologically, physically, and emotionally.

What Is The Function Of Pediatric Surgeon?

Many children have congenital disorders. They are not able to live a healthy life until those disorders are effectively treated. Some of the diseases are even life-threatening. A pediatric surgeon is an expert in handling diseases, either congenital or acquired, in children. Following are the functions performed by the pediatric surgeon:

 Diagnosis: Diagnosis of the disease is the first step towards treatment. With a proper diagnosis, the pediatrician would be able to start appropriate treatment.

 Non-surgical treatment: After the diagnosis is done, the pediatric surgeon may prescribe certain medications that may either help reduce the symptoms or treat the disease or may reduce the symptoms and treat the condition.

 Surgical Interventions: If the non-surgical interventions are not able to provide adequate relief, a pediatric surgeon may advise surgical interventions and also perform the surgery.

 Post-operative care: After the surgery is completed, post-operative care and monitoring are also done by a pediatric surgeon.

What Are The Diseases In Which Surgery May Be Required In Children?

Diseases that require surgery in children are:

 Abdominal Cyst: Abdominal cyst is a condition characterized by presence of abnormal mass inside the abdomen. In some cases, the cyst does not cause any problem. However, in other cases it may lead to complications. Although largely asymptomatic, obstruction in the abdomen, internal bleeding and pain may occur in some patients.

 Hirschsprung disease: Hirschsprung disease is present in the child by birth. In this disease, the nerve cells in the large intestine are absent. The condition leads to functional obstruction in bowel movement.

 Gallstones: Gallstones are formed due to supersaturation of bile. The most common form of gallstones present in children are pigment gallstones. The are found in children with hemolytic disorders. Also cholesterol stones are found quiet often.  Pigment gallstones, formed due to high concentration of bilirubin in bile, is a common type of gallstone in children.

 Imperforate anus: In this condition, there is a defect in the opening of anus. The anal opening is either not formed or is blocked.

 Biliary atresia: In this condition, the one or more bile ducts of the child are either absent, narrow or blocked. The condition may be present with birth or is acquired later in life. Liver failure may occur if biliary atresia is not adequately treated.

 Choledochal cyst: Choledochal cyst is the dilation of one or more bile ducts. The condition is congenital i.e. present at the time of birth. The surgery done to remove the cyst is considered as definite treatment for this condition.

 Merkel’s diverticulum: Merkel’s diverticulum is the condition in which there is growth of pouch in intestine. This condition is congenital. It is considered as one of the most common congenital abnormality.

 Appendicitis: Inflammation of appendix is known as appendicitis. Patient experiences pain in the lower right abdomen, loss of appetite, and nausea and vomiting.

What Are The Various Specializations Of Pediatric Surgeon?

Following are the various specializations of the pediatric surgeon:

• Neonatal
• Prenatal
• Trauma
• Pediatric oncology