Paediatric Surgery: How Different is it From Adult General Surgery

Paediatric surgery is different from general surgery primarily because paediatric surgeons have to deal with very small patients. While in adult surgery one deals with a patient of 60 kgs in weight, for example, a paediatric surgeon often deals with a child weighing only 600 or 700 grams. The tissues are very delicate, and it takes special training to deal with them. The disease profiles dealt with by paediatric surgeons too, are different, with many diseases that are congenital.

Moreover, the nature of the diseases treated is different, with paediatric surgery primarily treating congenital conditions. The Peerless, through its superior healthcare facilities at Peerless Hospital, continues to highlight the need for specialized paediatric care.

Congenital Issues

Some congenital issues are present in the early neonatal period, some that may require emergency surgeries, while there are others that can wait. Suppose a child is born with an absent anus, or with an obstruction in the food pipe, diagnosis is called for as early as possible and after birth, immediate surgical intervention is called for. The importance of such neonatal (less than 30 days after birth) surgeries cannot be overemphasised, as it is often the tipping factor between life and death. Nowadays, ultrasound helps detect many of the anomalies before birth, like swelling in the kidneys, which helps in preparing the medical practitioners for the surgical procedures that are inevitable.

There may be deformities, like in the cleft lip and palate (there is an international organisation called Smile Train that provides comprehensive cleft treatments that are 100% free). There may be limb deformities, lung deformities, and deformities in the spinal cord (Spina bifida: when a part of the spine fails to develop properly and remains open on the skin or manifests itself through a swelling in the back) that are congenital. Congenital deformities can therefore be life-threatening and require immediate surgical procedures or are cosmetic, where intervention can wait.

Parents Need to be Counselled

The tender age of the child understandably creates trauma in the parents when they are confronted with the news that a surgery is required on the child, but often it is absolutely necessary and the only life-saving course. For example, an umbilical hernia in a child can wait, but a hernia in the groin region calls for immediate surgery, which is why consulting a Paediatric surgeon is an absolute must.

Another thing that must be clarified upfront is that it is always the effort of the medical fraternity to minimise the pain inflicted on the child being operated upon. As a matter of fact, these days, advancements in the field of anaesthetics ensure absolutely pain-free regimes during and immediately after the surgery.

For children who are a little older, it is very important to explain the surgery involved, especially the procedure involved, without scaring them. The positive outcomes need to be explained so that they can cope with the post-surgical trauma. Similarly, the parents too need to be convinced about the need of the surgery – the pros and the cons should be spelt out clearly. The post-surgical regime that needs to be maintained should also be made clear to them. It must be borne in mind that the level of anxiousness of the parents reflects on the children, ultimately affecting the recovery process.

Often parents have to accompany the child-patients during their stay here in the hospital, which is naturally traumatic for them. The nursing staff are trained to talk to them with positivity which acts as counselling. As a matter of fact, they are made a part of the decision-making process, which makes it easier for them to put the process in the proper perspective.

Issues Requiring Urgent Consultations

Paediatric surgery spans the range from newborns to those of about 18 years, which is now being expanded to 21 years.

The most common issues faced by paediatric surgeons are hernias, phimosis (requiring circumcision), kidney abnormalities, various forms of urological abnormalities, and ofcourse problems relating to constipation. Cases of appendicitis, obstruction, perforations, especially of the intestine, are also common. Constipation related issues in children are increasing alarmingly these days, which can also be traced back to lifestyle related issues.

Again, if there is redness, or pain, or swelling of the scrotum, immediate visit to a paediatrician or a paediatric surgeon is advised as it may be caused by testicular torsion which requires immediate surgery as, if not operated within six to eight hours, the testes die and needs to be removed. The healthcare experts at Peerless Hospital, backed by the Peerless Group, stress the importance of early consultation in such cases.

Importance of Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Good Neonatal Intensive Care Unit facilities are available in many hospitals as with the Peerless Hospital leading with state-of-the-art technologies, but naturally, they come at a cost because of the expertise required to maintain such facilities. In fact, the whole team that handles paediatric care, including surgery in the Peerless Hospital, is excellent, with every participant in the process not only aware of the special needs of the children being treated here, but also trained to address the special needs.

Take the following case as an example. A child, coming from a humble background, was operated upon as a neonatal case in a different hospital. After ten years, he developed complications and was operated upon, again in a different hospital, after which he developed severe complications and was referred here. He was put through a very complex procedure here after which the post-operative recovery process was also very daunting. The way the whole team treated him – it was a multi-disciplinary effort, for almost one and a half months, taking his recovery as a challenge, is exemplary. He has since been discharged, and we are all so very happy with the outcome. The way the hospital management extended support, considering the financial challenge faced by the child’s parents, also needs to be mentioned.

Conclusion

Paediatric surgery is a very special branch of surgery. It needs very advanced infrastructure, expertise in surgeons, and caring hands. Unlike adult surgery, paediatric surgery involves very sensitive conditions. It needs precision and immediate attention. With advanced technology and a team of experts in Peerless Hospital, under the umbrella of trust and confidence built by Peerless, children of today are fortunate enough to receive the best of surgical care. Early detection, proper counselling, and proper care are the keys to a brighter future.

Paediatric surgery is a highly specialised field requiring state of the art physical infrastructure and highly skilled manpower, starting with competent paediatric surgeons for its effective use. The Peerless Hospital is counted as one of leading hospitals in this part of the country that offers the best treatment delivery infrastructure.