Surgery for Children is not the same as in an Adult-
“Children are not small adults”. Their anatomy and physiology is different and
evolving. They need a tailored individualized approach. Pediatric Surgeons are
trained initially in General Surgery and under go another further three years
of training in surgical diseases of children.
They are trained to operate children from the newborn period to
adolescence. They are trained to adapt to the growing child and their changing
needs. Pediatric surgeon treats children with severe congenital birth defects
to complex surgical problems rarely seen in adults.
The surgical treatment of a child requires patience and
understanding of families from whom having a child with a birth defect may be
devastating. Most birth defects can be corrected with a reasonable long term
survival and prognosis. Complex anatomical defects may need to be reconstructed
in stages. Some common birth defects are the absence of anus, absence of food
pipe, bowel in the chest, loss of continuity of bowel, defects of abdominal
wall. They require initial treatment in the neonatal age with some requiring
further surgery after a few months.
Children also may face certain conditions which are unique
to childhood such as intussusceptions, certain malignancies. Some children have
complex congenital problems which require close follow up and long term
management.