Parents want the very best for their children and work hard to make good choices on a young one's behalf. When choosing a pediatric surgeon, look no further than the pediatric surgery specialists at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, the region's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children.
The Nicklaus Children's Hospital pediatric surgery team is among the most experienced in Florida, performing thousands of major and minor procedures annually. The team also provides consultation and care of pediatric surgical patients presenting in the hospital's Emergency Department and pediatric trauma center. The practice also works together with the Department of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine to provide pre- and post-operative medical attention for patients in need of intensive care.
In addition, the hospital's pediatric surgeons provide training for pediatric surgical fellows, medical students and medical residents.
All members of our team understand pain issues in children and are available to assist with pain management appropriately and as quickly as possible.
Up-To-Date Pediatric Surgical Techniques
The department offers the most up-to-date techniques for all types of surgery on newborns, children and adolescents. They provide care for a variety of conditions including but not limited to:
Complex neonatal congenital anomalies, including:
- esophageal and intestinal atresias
- pulmonary and diaphragmatic anomalies
- abdominal wall defects (onphalocele and gastroschisis)
- intestinal malrotation
- genitourinary anomalies
General pediatric surgery, including:
- pediatric inguinal hernias
- hydroceles
- umbilical hernias
- undescended testicles (cryptochidism)
- lumps and bumps
- circumcision
- laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Thoracic surgery (conditions affecting the chest), including:
- resection of pulmonary anomalies
- repair of pectus excavatum and carinatum
- thoracoscopy for empyema
- lung biopsies
- wedge lung resections
- resection of mediastinal tumors
Surgical oncology, including:
- diagnosis and surgical management of solid cancerous tumors and vascular access for chemotherapy of these patients.
- Emergency surgical procedures, including: appendicitis, testicular torsion and trauma.
- Minimally invasive surgical procedures, including: laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, esophageal endoscopy and bronchial endoscopy.
Surgical Medical Breakthroughs
The Department of Pediatric Surgery at Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been involved in numerous regional medical breakthroughs.
The surgeons participated in the separation of conjoined twins in 2000, the first procedure of this type at Nicklaus Children's Hospital and the only successful separation in the state of Florida. Our pediatric surgical team pioneered an innovative surgical treatment for pectus excavatum (sunken chest), becoming the lead team for this procedure in South Florida.
The surgeons have also been instrumental in new surgical procedures for the treatment of appendicitis which leaves no visible scar. The practice was recently ranked number one in the nation by Children’s Health Corporation of America (CHCA) in the care of appendicitis (the most common childhood emergency) among 40 participating children’s hospitals. The results from the study included both patient outcomes and hospital length of stay.
Preparing the Patient and Family
In order to ensure that the child and family are well prepared for the surgical procedure, the pediatric surgery team recommends that all surgical patients participate in a presurgical orientation.
Family-Centered Care
Nicklaus Children's Hospital's approach to pediatric care involves the patient and the patient’s family, the entire medical and nursing team, and an extensive support system including Child Life specialists, social workers, volunteers, "doctor" clowns, dog therapy volunteers, magicians, and more. These invaluable team members help to make the experience as pleasant as possible for all surgical patients and their families.