Surgery can be a scary idea for most people, especially when it’s the case for children. Luckily, we’re living in a time when medical care for children has progressed by leaps and bounds. If you need pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala, our expert pediatric surgeon has the expertise and experience required to help your little one. In the article below, you can find some general information about pediatric thoracic surgery. 

What is pediatric thoracic surgery?

Children can have birth defects or injuries in the region between the neck and the abdomen. For such cases, sometimes pediatric thoracic surgery is required to help the child get better. The illness or injury can be in the chest wall, the lungs, oesophagus, etc. Conditions can include bronchogenic cysts, mediastinal masses, pneumonias, lung abscesses, and other such conditions. Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy, VATS wedge resection, VATS decortication, and laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair are some common surgeries. For more information about pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala, reach out to us by email or phone call.

Who needs pediatric thoracic surgery?

Pediatric surgeons typically perform surgeries on children from newborn babies to teenagers. So children who are suffering from any illness or injury in that area might be referred for pediatric thoracic surgery. Sometimes, if the condition can be cured by medication and care, surgery might not be necessary. For some conditions, though, it is important to get the child operated upon as fast as possible. If you’re wondering whether your child needs pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala, you can consult our pediatric surgeon, Dr Harikrishna Devadasan. 

What procedures and services might be required?

Under the umbrella of pediatric thoracic surgery, there are many procedures that can be performed. Some of the common procedures are biopsy (cells are removed and sent to a pathologist for testing), lobectomy (removing a lobe of the lung for cancer cure), Nuss Procedure (insertion of a steel bar into the chest to push sternum into its proper position), pleurodesis (to bring the linings of the lung and chest wall together so no fluid or air gets in), Ravitch Procedure (removal of problematic cartilage to place sternum in proper position), and resection (removal of tissue, part or all of an organ). 

Is anesthesia required for pediatric thoracic surgery?

Most often, pediatric surgeons will use anesthesia for pediatric thoracic surgeries. However, since children can be very different in terms of anatomy, physiology, and behavior, anesthesiologists use different techniques to achieve this. They can do lung isolation, regional anesthesia, one-lung ventilation, etc with pediatric equipment like bronchoscopes or bronchial blockers. The most common IV induction agent is usually propofol. For post-op pain, there are a variety of painkillers depending on the patient’s condition. You can contact us to know more about pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala.

What sort of care is required post pediatric thoracic surgery?

First, it’s important to note that only your pediatric surgeon can tell you the exact care required. Some of the common post-op care for pediatric thoracic surgery involves pain management, breathing exercises as well as monitoring the healing. Usually bed rest is recommended as physical activity can affect the recovery. Care has to be taken of the incision. It is generally recommended to not rub it harshly or put any lotions, oils or creams on it unless recommended by your doctor. If you need an expert opinion on the right care post pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala, you can contact us at Tiny Surgeon.

We hope this brief guide explained the basics of pediatric thoracic surgery to you. Of course, there is much more to these surgeries than we can mention here. Each case is different from the other and until you meet a pediatric surgeon in person you won’t know the exact method that is best for you. If you need expert pediatric thoracic surgery in Kollam, Kerala, please contact us to find out more. Our pediatric surgeon has a long and proven track record of helping children with birth defects as well as injuries.