Pediatric surgery involves the surgical treatment of Newborns,babies, children, adolescents, and young adults. From birth until late adolescence, a pediatric surgeon specializes in treating children’s surgical requirements.

Some conditions are exclusive to or more common in children, and thus, surgical problems faced by pediatric surgeons are generally varied from those treated by general surgeons. Additionally, it is generally difficult for the little ones or the youngsters to convey their symptoms accurately. As a result, pediatric surgeons obtain specialized training to deal with the unique issues that come with operating on children.

Pediatric surgeons are the medical professionals in charge of performing these surgeries after establishing a pre-operative plan based on the patient’s observations. The surgery can be broken down into various separate specialties. General, gynecological, urological, and cardiothoracic operations are among them.

Different types of Pediatric Surgery

In the pediatric age group, surgeries might be loosely classified as major, minor, elective, or urgent. Major surgery includes surgeries on the head and neck, as well as the chest and some abdominal operations. Major surgeries are often quite complicated, and they come with a higher risk of complications, as well as a longer recovery time and hospitalization.

Minor pediatric surgeries are procedures that allow children to return to their normal routines in a reasonably short time after surgery. Excess skin removal, biopsies, and the treatment of lengthy bone fractures are all examples of minor surgical procedures.

Elective surgery refers to procedures that are performed on a child who does not require immediate medical attention, such as circumcision in boys. This means that surgeons can perform the procedure at a later period and take into account the parents’ and guardians’ choices.

Finally, emergency procedures are performed when severe accidents or life-threatening congenital heart problems are diagnosed at birth, as a treatment option that the kid would not survive without.

Pediatric Surgery department at Fakeeh University Hospital also covers all diagnostic and surgical management for newborns with surgical illnesses inclusive of birth defects.

Neonatal Surgery Services

  • Esophageal atresia
  • Diaphragmatic hernia
  • Anorectal malformations
  • Hirschsproung’s disease
  • Duodenal and bowel atresia
  • Malrotation, Volvulus
  • Pyloric Stenosis
  • Biliary Atresia, Choledochal cyst
  • Omphaloceles, Gastroschisis
  • Hernia & Circumcisions
  • Cystic hygroma, Hemangiomas
  • Necrotising enterocolitis
  • Meconium Ileus
  • Duplication cyst, Mesenteric cyst, Ovarian cyst
  • Sacrosoccygeal teratoma

Pediatric Surgery Services

Fakeeh University Hospital specializes in providing comprehensive surgical care to infants and children of all ages with compassion and warmth. We provide assessment and management to children with general surgical issues in the categories listed below:

Pediatric Surgery Services

  • Inguinal Hernia Repair – During inguinal hernia surgery, the surgeon will press the protruding tissues back into the abdomen whilst stitching and reinforcing the section of the abdominal wall that contains the abnormality.
  • Epigastric Hernia Treatment – An epigastric hernia is a bulge caused by body tissue bulging through the neighboring muscle in the stomach area. The treatment resolves this issue.
  • Umbilical Hernia Surgery – This is a surgical procedure that corrects umbilical hernias, which are bulges or pouches that form in the abdomen.
  • Thyroglossal Cyst – A thyroglossal duct cyst is a fluid-filled mass or lump in the front of the neck. Surgery is recommended to remove the cyst.
  • Branchial Cyst – A branchial cyst, also known as a branchial cleft cyst, is a cavity present at birth on one side of the neck.
  • Dermoid Cyst – It forms when tissue accumulates beneath the skin and is usually present at birth. Hair, teeth, or nerves may be present in these cysts.
  • Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery – Thyroid surgery, often known as thyroidectomy, is the surgical excision of all or portions of the thyroid gland. The surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands is referred to as parathyroid surgery or parathyroidectomy.
  • Salivary Gland Surgery – The human body has three pairs of main salivary glands: parotid, submandibular, and sublingual. There are several types of salivary gland surgeries, depending on which gland and what the condition is.
  • Hemangioma – Hemangiomas, also known as infantile hemangiomas, are noncancerous blood vessel growths. They are the most prevalent tumors or growths in kids.
  • Lymphangiomas (Cystic Hygroma) – Lymphangiomas, or lymphatic malformations, are fluid-filled cysts that emerge in lymphatic vessels and are noncancerous.

Pediatric Gastro-Intestinal Surgeries / Procedures / Conditions

  • Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Surgery (Fundoplication) – Fundoplication is one of the most popular operations done to treat heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • Bowel Obstruction – A bowel obstruction is a severe condition that occurs when something obstructs your bowels, possibly the large or small intestine.
  • Intussusception – Intussusception is a medical emergency in which the intestine is obstructed. If not treated, it can be fatal.
  • Foreign Body Ingestion and Complication – Although the majority of ingested foreign bodies pass normally, significant consequences such as intestinal perforation and obstruction can occur. Thus, medical intervention is required.
  • Feeding Gastrostomy (MicKey’s Gastrostomy Button) – A Mic-Key button is a low-profile instrument that enables kids to get meals, fluids, and medicine straight into their stomachs.
  • Hirschsprung’s Disease – Hirschsprung’s disease is a birth defect in which parts of the intestine lack nerves.

In addition to the above, the hospital has expertize in treatment for Constipation (fewer than three bowel movements a week), anal fissure (a small tear in the lining of the anus), anal fistula (an infected tunnel between the skin and the anus), and anal polyp (a small growth of excess tissue in the anus).

Pediatric Thoracic surgeries

  • Decortication – Decortication is a surgical treatment that removes fibrous tissue that has developed abnormally on the surface of the lung, chest wall, or diaphragm.
  • Lung Cyst Surgery – Lung cysts are sacs of tissue filled with air or fluid, which are treated by surgical methods.
  • Bronchoscopy Foreign Body Removal – Foreign body aspiration is more common in youngsters due to natural curiosity throughout the oral phase, as well as laughing, crying, and playing during meals. Bronchoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows doctors to examine the lungs and airways.

Pediatric Oncosurgeries

  • Wilms’ Tumor – Wilms’ tumor is a rare type of kidney cancer that affects mostly children.
  • Neuroblastoma – Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that arises from immature nerve cells present throughout the body.
  • Hepatoblastoma – Hepatoblastoma is an uncommon tumor that begins in the liver cells.
  • Teratoma – A teratoma is a form of tumor that has fully grown tissues and organs such as hair, teeth, muscle, and bone.

Pediatric Hepato-Biliary Surgeries

  • Biliary Atresia – Biliary atresia is an obstruction in the ducts that transport bile from the liver to the gallbladder.
  • Choledochal Cyst – A choledochal cyst is a birth defect in the duct (tube) that distributes bile from the liver to the gall bladder and small intestine.
  • Liver Cyst and Abscess – The term cyst refers to a collection of fluid encircled by a lining that produces the fluid. While a collection of pus is referred to as an abscess.

Pediatric Hepato-Biliary Surgeries

  • Gallbladder Surgery – The surgical removal of the gallbladder is known as cholecystectomy and it is used to treat gallstones and other gallbladder problems.
  • Splenectomy – A splenectomy is a surgical operation that removes the spleen partially or fully.
  • Pancreatectomy – A pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of the pancreas completely or in part.
  • Pseudocyst Surgery – A pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac made up of pancreatic enzymes, blood, and necrotic (dead) tissue that develops in the abdomen. If the pseudocyst continues to expand and cause pain, surgery to drain it may be required.

Minimally-Invasive Surgical Solutions

The hospital has clinicians that are experts in performing minimally invasive surgeries and utilise techniques such as Laparoscopy, Pneumo-Vesicoscopy, Retroperitoneoscopy and Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) for various disorders present in children.

  • Laparoscopic Interventions : These are done for appendectomy, gall bladder removal, choledochal cyst excision, undescended testis , hernia, intestinal surgeries, magnet/ battery induced intestinal complications, splenectomy, antireflux surgery( fundoplication), ovarian cyst excision, Pyeloplasty, nephrectomy, ureteric reimplantation, and more.
  • Retro-peritoneoscopic Interventions – nephrectomy, pyelolithotomy, pyeloplasty & more.
  • Pneumo-vesicoscopic Interventions – Ureteric reimplantation, diverticulectomy & more.
  • Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery(SILS) – appendectomy, cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), ovarian cyst excision & more..

Kids are more than just young adults. However, they may not always be able to express what is bothering them. Also, they may not always be able to answer medical queries or be calm and cooperative during a medical check. This is why pediatric surgeons are skilled in examining and treating children in a way that makes them feel comfortable and compliant.

If your pediatrician recommends that your kid should see a pediatric surgeon, you may be rest assured that he or she has the most thorough and full training, as well as the most experience dealing with children and treating surgical illnesses.