The principle subspecialties of paediatric surgery

Neonatal surgery – routine antenatal ultrasound scanning means that patients are getting younger and younger. For some conditions, a birth defect hole in the abdominal wall and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, paediatric surgeons now provide antenatal counselling for parents in conjunction with obstetricians and specialists in fetal medicine.

They plan the care of the mother and child from delivery to subsequent surgery.

Paediatric urology – certain urological conditions, such as hypospadias, frequently present at birth or in young people.

Paediatric oncology – childhood cancers are different from those developed by adults. Leukaemia remains the most significant in children.

Common emergency procedures:

• Appendix removal
• Correction of torsion of the testis
• Pyloromyotomy (correcting the narrowing of the opening between stomach and intestine)