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Child surgery or Pediatric surgery needs a specialized surgeon for obvious reasons. Adult surgeons are not experts, when it comes to operating on a child. Child bodies differ from adult bodies and their diseases also vary from the adult ones. Surgical parameters like anesthesia, IV fluids etc. also need different monitoring and administration when compared to adult procedures. Only well-trained surgeons who specialize in pediatric surgery, should be allowed to handle children in the operation theatres.
Some of the interesting facts are narrated below, to give you the complete picture about child surgery because it`s the safety about your child that we are talking about here!
- William E. Ladd is designated as the father of pediatric or child surgery. Also, Neonatal surgery and fetal surgery are the branches or subspecialties of pediatric surgery.
- In the 20th century, pediatric surgery emerged since the surgery of birth defects were seen to demand novel techniques.
- During child surgery, regional anesthesia along with general anesthesia should be used to block the nerve sensation in the target area. This is helpful in post-operative pain reduction for children, which aids in quicker recovery.
- The drugs used in local anesthesia for regional blocking of the nerves help reduce or even completely eliminate the requirement of narcotic-based pain killers that are administered after the surgery. This way the kids do not need to go through the harsh pain-relief drugs.
- The role of parents is as important as the surgeons when talking about child surgery. They need to mentally prepare their child to face the surgery. They should also be beside their children with the nursing team, so that the children recover faster post their surgery.
- Epidural anesthesia is the most common form of anesthesia used in child surgery. This type resembles the anesthesia administered during childbirth (injecting local anesthesia in the tailbone or back region).
- Recovery period for your child after a surgery depends on the type and impact of the surgery. Average post surgery recovery period ranges from 3 to 4 weeks whereas larger surgeries require 6 to 8 weeks.
- Ideally an anesthetist should pay the child and their family a pre-operative visit to discuss about the general health and allergic conditions of the child who would undergo a surgery.
- During pediatric surgery, the risk of any serious complication is higher if the child has some major disease or if he or she is below one year of age.
- In child surgery, fluid management of the patient is an important parameter of medical care, especially during the initial treatment. Adequate knowledge of the fluid physiology is vital since children are highly sensitive to even small levels of dehydration.
- In child surgery, when frequent blood transfusions are required like in the case of sickle cell disease patients, development of counter antibodies in the patient body might be seen. This makes it difficult to obtain compatible blood for the child. Specific donor’s blood has to be closely matched to the patient’s blood to reduce the antibody development.
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