Pediatric surgeons are specialist doctors who focus onworksurgery in pediatric patients,includes fetuses, infants (born prematurely or at term), children, and adolescents aged not more than 18 years.
Pediatric surgeon is a subspecialty of general surgical medicine who treats various conditions that require surgery, both in cases of emergencies, injuries, infections, cancer or tumors, degenerative disorders (inherited), and congenital disorders in children and adolescents.
In Indonesia, to get the title of Pediatric Surgeon (Sp.BA), a general practitioner must take 10 semesters of surgery as a specialist in surgery. Pediatric surgeon education is a 2-year further professional education for general surgeons who are interested in pediatric surgery.
Pediatric Surgeon Specialist
Pediatric surgeons are divided into several areas of expertise, including:
- Prenatal pediatric surgery relating to the unborn fetus.
- Neonatal pediatric surgery that focuses on infants, either term or premature.
- Pediatric surgery oncology, which focuses on treating pediatric patients with cancer.
- Pediatric surgery is a field of traumatology, which focuses on surgical emergency care for trauma or injury cases.
- Pediatric urological surgery, which is a subspecialty branch of surgery that deals with cases of diseases and disorders of the pediatric urinary tract.
- Pediatric Digestive Surgery, which explores surgical management in cases of pediatric digestive tract diseases.
Duties and Roles of Pediatric Surgeons
In the medical world, pediatric surgeons have a special role as health workers in providing health services with special competence in pediatric surgery with a scientific foundation of medical science, clinical skills, and management of health problems.
Based on the regulations of the Indonesian Medical Council (KKI) regarding professional education standards and competence of pediatric surgeons, a pediatric surgeon must have the ability to perform services, management procedures, and manage health problems in the field of pediatric surgery as a whole. The following are the duties and roles of the pediatric surgeon:
- Determining the diagnosis based on physical examination, medical interview, and supporting examination.
- Have the ability to provide a correct, clear, complete, and honest explanation about the objectives, needs, and benefits and risks of the medical procedure to be carried out.
- Carry out pediatric surgical clinical procedures according to the problem, need, and authority.
- Perform emergency medical procedures correctly according to the patient's health problems and his authority as a pediatric surgeon.
- Explain indications for drug administration, how the drug works, dosage, and its application to patients.
- Manage pediatric surgery patients in polyclinics, operating rooms, nursing wards, intensive care units (ICUs), and emergency departments.
- Provide education and counseling related to the health development of pediatric surgical patients, to the patient's family and community.
Medical Actions and Diseases Treated by Pediatric Surgeons
A pediatric surgeon has clinical skills to perform treatments and surgeries according to the disease suffered by pediatric patients, such as:
- Disorders of the digestive tract, include: hernia and achalasia, pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the stomach), intestinal obstruction, intussusception, ileus, omphalocele and gastroschisis, Meckel's diverticulum, Hirschsprung's disease, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), appendicitis (appendicitis), peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity), perforation of the stomach and intestines, and blunt abdominal trauma (stomach injury).
- Diseases of the liver, bile and pancreaskreas, include: cholecystitis (inflammation of the bile ducts), choledochal cysts (biliary cysts), biliary atresia, pancreatic pseudocyst, pancreatitis, and liver cancer.
- Reproductive system disorders, include: testicular tumors, ovarian tumors, ovarian cysts, and testicular descent (undescended testes)
- Disorders or abnormalities in the chest cavity and respiratory tract, include: chest injury, pneumothorax (excess air in the pleura)hematothorax (presence of blood in the pleural cavity) pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum (chest protruding), and tumors in the chest cavity.
- Diseases of the bones, include: fractures, joint displacements, and bone tumors.
- Blood and lymph disorders (lymphatic system), include: lymphangioma, enlarged lymph nodes, bone marrow aspiration (aspiration) in children with leukemia, and enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).
- Disorders or disorders of the nerves of the brain, include: neuroblastoma, severe head injury, and brain hemorrhage requiring surgery.
- Disorders of the kidney and urinary system, include: hypospadias and epispadias, kidney stones, bladder disorders including bladder stones, kidney injury, and kidney and urinary tract infections.
- Tumors and cancer, include: lymphoma, brain cancer, leukemia, and soft tissue tumors.
- Disorders of the skin system, include: severe burns, melanoma or skin cancer in children.
- Intensive care, These include: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fluid and electrolyte therapy, management of acid-base disorders, and intensive monitoring of the child's condition.
When to See a Pediatric Surgeon?
Generally, pediatric surgeons can be found on the advice or referral of a pediatrician or general practitioner who treats the patient's illness. Here are some situations that require you to see or consult a pediatric surgeon, namely:
- The child has a disorder, disease, or condition that requires surgical treatment.
- The child experiences pain that requires immediate surgery to relieve pain
- The child has a birth defect or genetic disorder that requires surgery.
- Get advice on referrals from pediatricians or general practitioners to consult a pediatric surgeon regarding the disease and further treatment steps.
Preparing to See a Pediatric Surgeon
Here are some preparations that need to be done before seeing a pediatric surgeon:
- Make notes about the complaints and symptoms suffered by pediatric patients in detail, as well as the health history and development of the child since in the womb.
- Bring the results of previous examinations, such as blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, or biopsies if any.
- Inform the doctor regarding drugs (medical or herbal) and supplements that are being consumed.
- Ask about the available treatment options and their success rates, as well as the risks of each treatment.
- Ensuring the facilities and services have a good, complete, and friendly image.
- If you want to take advantage of BPJS or insurance, make sure the hospital is affiliated with BPJS or insurance provider.
- Ask for the recommendations of several pediatric surgeons from doctors who treat pediatric diseases.
With the exception of emergency surgery, parents are advised to prepare their child's mental condition before undergoing the scheduled surgery. Good preparation can help reduce your child's fears and worries during anesthetic procedures and pediatric surgeon surgeries, as well as help your child get through the recovery period quickly.
