Role of a Pediatric Surgeon in Child Care

Child care is way different from caring adults. Children may not always be able to express what is bothering them. Moreover, they cannot respond to medical questions also. Furthermore, they are not always able to assist and be patient during a medical examination and treatment procedures. Pediatric surgeons are skilled in examining and caring for kids in a way that makes them feel comfortable, secure, and at ease.

A pediatric surgeon is a qualified and experienced medical specialist to treat your child if they have an illness, injury, or disease that needs to be treated with surgery. Pediatric surgeons often manage the surgical cases that are very different from the ones that a general surgeon often encounters. Specialized education and training in pediatric surgery is necessary to become a qualified pediatric surgeon.

From birth until late adolescence, pediatric surgeons in Jaipur provide care for children. They focus their medical practice mostly on pediatric patients. Experience gained from advanced training and practical application teaches the unique aspects of caring for children medically and surgically. Let’s know more about the role of a pediatric surgeon in child care in this blog.

Who is a Pediatric Surgeon?

Pediatric surgeons are specialist doctors who specialize in treating and managing overall health children medically and surgically. They’re well-trained to do surgical procedures on infants, children, and young adults. 

Also, read: How to find best Pediatric Surgeon?

Among the most strenuous and extensive medical programs is the pediatric surgeon training program. The most competent, educated, and experienced surgeons in the field will be caring for your child if they require surgical care. Pediatric surgeons are skilled in communicating with and calming down children. Pediatric surgeons also provide pre- and postoperative care for children after diagnosing and treating their ailments. Following are the types of care provided by pediatric surgeons:

• Prenatal care: Pediatric surgeons and radiologists collaborate to identify issues while a child is still in the womb and schedule necessary surgeries for the child's delivery. Some of the specialized medical centers provide advanced infrastructure for prenatal surgery (surgery on a fetus).
• Neonatal care: Repairing congenital disabilities, or birth defects, in neonates is the focus of neonatal surgery.
• Trauma care: When a child sustains a moderate to severe injury—such as a fracture, cut, burn, or internal injury—trauma surgeries are performed. This is one of the main reasons why children get intensive medical care. 
• Pediatric oncology (oncology in children): Children diagnosed with cancer or benign (noncancerous) growths are treated by pediatric oncologists. 

Common Conditions Treated by Pediatric Surgeons

Following are the common conditions that are managed by expert pediatric surgeons:

• Appendectomy: It might be necessary to remove the appendix if it becomes infected or painful from inflammation. If the appendix bursts, emergency appendectomies could be necessary.
• Biliary atresia: This surgical procedure treats a congenital birth defect in which the liver's bile cannot be adequately emptied. This procedure involves rerouting the bile ducts to allow the liver to start draining as needed.
• Various cancer treatments: A pediatric surgeon holds the expertise to treat a variety of childhood cancers, such as those that affect the pancreas, liver, abdomen, or kidneys. Before radiation or chemotherapy, the surgeon may perform surgery to implant a portacath or remove a malignant tumor.
• Congenital defects: Many different congenital conditions can affect overall growth and development of a child. Most often, surgical care is needed for defects involving the heart, kidneys, and lungs. The surgeon may opt to surgically treat the impacted organ and then advise medicine to provide treatment for the associated condition.
• Gallbladder surgery: Viral infections, the development of stones, or other illnesses can all lead to gallbladder infections. Gallbladder removal surgery may be necessary if other treatment options are unsuccessful.
• Gastroschisis: Due to this abnormality, the baby's stomach and intestines drop out of the body through a hole in their abdomen. Immediately after birth, a pediatric surgeon will operate to seal the opening and return the organs to their proper positions.
• Bowed chest: If braces and other treatments are ineffective, this condition, which arises when a child's breast bone and ribs grow disproportionately, may need surgery.
• Reproductive defects: Surgical intervention may be necessary to remove tumors and cysts or correct organ dysfunction in children who have genital defects.
• Spleen removal: If a child has experienced a traumatic injury or is suffering from certain blood disorders, it may be necessary for them to have a splenectomy.
• Bariatric surgery: A childhood obesity treatment that involves inserting a balloon into the esophagus to close it off and suppress appetite.
• Removal of diseased intestines: Certain birth defects cause intestinal inflammation, which is followed by tissue death. After the bowel has suffered significant damage, surgery is the only way to treat the condition.
• Hernia surgery: A surgical procedure may be required by the surgeon to stop the intestines from falling through a groin hole that does not close on its own if the child is born with it.
• GERD treatment: GERD, also known as acid reflux, is a condition which often arises when stomach acid spills back up the esophagus. In order to contain the acid, it can be fixed by tightening the opening between the stomach and the esophagus.
• Abnormal pathways: Digestive or respiratory issues can arise from malformations of the trachea or esophagus in children. The child's life may even be in danger, and reconstructing the airway or the esophagus's route to the stomach may need surgery.
• Imperforate anus: Waste elimination through the bowel necessitates surgery if the child is born without an opening in the anus or if the opening is in the incorrect place.

Conclusion

By offering specialized surgical interventions for congenital, developmental, and acquired conditions, a qualified pediatric surgeon plays a vital role in the care of children. Their knowledge ensures the best treatment outcomes for kids, which generally entail working together with other medical specialists to promote children's general physical and mental health.

Choose Surya hospitals to get treatment from the best pediatric surgeon in Jaipur. Book your appointment now! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What kinds of diseases are treated by qualified pediatric surgeons?
A: They treat a variety of ailments, such as tumors, gastrointestinal issues, chest ailments, congenital malformations, and trauma-related injuries. They also carry out procedures for newborns and minimally invasive surgeries.

Q2: What should I anticipate from my child's post-operative recovery?
A: The recovery process varies based on the technique used. To ensure a smooth recovery, the surgeon will monitor your child's healing process, provide comprehensive post-operative care instructions, and arrange follow-up visits.

Q3: Will my child require continued medical attention following surgery?
A: The condition being treated determines this. Certain children might need to have routine check-ups to manage any long-term effects of their condition or to track their growth and development. You will receive guidance on the appropriate follow-up schedule from the surgeon.