Pediatric Surgery at Liv Hospital: Expert, Compassionate Care for Children and Families
Caring for a child who needs surgery can be overwhelming. At Liv Hospital, our Pediatric Surgery Department is here to help, offering expert care that focuses on safety, comfort, and your child’s long-term health. We treat children from birth through adolescence, creating treatment plans that fit each child’s unique needs. Our team supports your family at every step, from evaluation and diagnosis to surgery, recovery, and follow-up, working to ease your worries and achieve the best results.
Here is an overview of how we approach pediatric surgery, our specialties, and the main principles that guide our care at Liv Hospital.
Why Pediatric Surgery Requires Specialized Care ?
Children are not just smaller versions of adults; they have their own unique medical needs. Their bodies react differently to illness, anesthesia, stress, and surgery. At Liv Hospital, our pediatric surgeons are trained in both general surgery and specialized techniques for children, taking into account growth, sensitive tissues, and developmental considerations. This training helps us to:
- Tailor surgical techniques to small, delicate anatomical structures.
- Plan procedures that protect growth potential and function
- Use anesthesia protocols designed for infants, toddlers, and teens.
- Minimize physical and psychological trauma throughout the process.
This means our care is not only technically excellent but also right for your child’s stage of development, supporting healthy growth, recovery, and resilience.
Family-Centered Care, Every Step of the Way
As a parent or caregiver, you play a key role in your child’s healing. At Liv Hospital, we include families as active partners in every part of care. Our surgeons and care team:
- Communicate openly and compassionately with parents and children.
- Explain diagnoses, treatment options, and expected outcomes clearly.
- Encourage questions and shared decision-making.
- Provide age-appropriate preparation to reduce fear and anxiety.
- Offer guidance on pre- and post-operative care at home.
Working together in this way builds comfort, trust, and understanding. It helps children feel safe and gives families confidence.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration for Comprehensive Care
Children often need care from several different specialists. We work with experts in all the needed pediatric fields to make sure your child’s treatment is complete and well-coordinated. Our pediatric surgery team works closely with:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Radiology and Imaging
- Pediatric Intensive Care and Rehabilitation (as needed)
This team approach means we look after every part of your child’s health, from the first diagnosis to long-term follow-up.
Advanced Technology for Better Outcomes
Innovation is important in pediatric surgery. By using the latest technology, we make surgeries more precise, help children recover faster, and improve both how things look and work. At Liv Hospital, we use:
- Minimally invasive (laparoscopic and thoracoscopic) techniques
- Robotic-assisted surgery, where appropriate
- High-resolution imaging and intraoperative guidance
- Enhanced recovery pathways tailored to children
- Child-specific pain management and anesthesia protocols
This means children have smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and can get back to their normal activities sooner.
What Surgeries Do We Perform?
Our team treats many different pediatric conditions. Here are some of our main areas of expertise.
Neonatal Surgery
We provide surgical care for newborns with congenital anomalies identified before or shortly after birth. Conditions treated include:
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
- Omphalocele and gastroschisis
- Intestinal atresia and malrotation
- Hirschsprung’s disease
These delicate surgeries need careful planning, special anesthesia, and close teamwork with neonatal intensive care to help babies recover safely and grow well.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery
We manage both emergency and elective GI surgical needs, including:
- Appendicitis and appendectomy
- Intussusception reduction and bowel surgery
- Pyloric stenosis repair
- Inflammatory bowel disease–related procedures
- Anal fissures, fistulas, and anorectal disorders
We always aim to help children recover well, support their nutrition, and keep discomfort after surgery as low as possible.
Oncological (Cancer) Surgery
Working closely with pediatric oncology, radiology, and pathology, our surgeons manage solid tumors with a focus on complete, safe resection and organ preservation when possible, including:
- Wilms tumor (kidney)
- Neuroblastoma
- Hepatoblastoma (liver)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue tumors
We create a unique plan for each child, often combining surgery with chemotherapy or radiation, depending on the child’s age and type of tumor.
Thoracic Surgery
Our pediatric thoracic program treats congenital and acquired disorders of the chest, such as:
- Congenital lung malformations (e.g., CPAM)
- Chest wall deformities like pectus excavatum
- Mediastinal masses and cysts
- Pleural diseases
We use minimally invasive thoracoscopy whenever possible to lower pain and help children recover faster.
Urological Surgery
Our pediatric urology-focused procedures are designed to protect function, fertility potential, and self-esteem, including:
- Circumcision (medical indications)
- Hypospadias and epispadias repair
- Undescended testes (orchiopexy)
- Vesicoureteral reflux procedures
- Hydronephrosis management and obstruction relief
We talk through all treatment options with families to make sure decisions support your child’s long-term health.
Trauma Surgery
In emergency situations, our team responds with expertise and speed to treat:
- Blunt and penetrating injuries
- Burns and soft tissue trauma
- Internal injuries requiring urgent intervention
We work with pediatric emergency, critical care, and rehabilitation teams to help your child recover fully.
Inguinal and Scrotal Pathologies
Common pediatric surgical issues in this category include:
- Inguinal hernia and hydrocele
- Testicular torsion (urgent)
- Undescended and ectopic testes
- Varicocele in select adolescents
A quick evaluation can help prevent problems and protect your child’s future reproductive health.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Where appropriate, minimally invasive approaches are preferred due to smaller incisions and faster recovery. Common procedures include:
- Laparoscopic appendectomy and cholecystectomy
- Thoracoscopic lung resections
- Endoscopic procedures: gastroscopy, cystoscopy, and colonoscopy
We also use special recovery plans to help lower pain and shorten hospital stays.
Special and Complex Cases
Our team creates personalized solutions for complex conditions, always focusing on keeping your child’s function and quality of life as high as possible:
- Spina bifida–related issues
- Voiding disorders
- Pilonidal disease
- Chronic constipation and motility disorders
- Intersex variations (managed with sensitivity, ethics, and multidisciplinary input)
What Makes Pediatric Surgery Challenging and How We Address It ?
Pediatric surgery requires precision, communication, and long-term thinking. Key challenges include:
- Small, delicate anatomy: Surgical techniques must be precise and gentle to avoid injury and protect growth.
- Age-specific responses: Children respond differently to anesthesia, pain, and stress; our protocols are tailored accordingly.
- Family involvement: Parents are essential partners in decision-making, so we prioritize clear, compassionate communication.
- Long-term follow-up: Growth and development continue after surgery, requiring scheduled evaluations to ensure optimal outcomes.
By bringing together our skills and compassion, we protect your child’s recovery now and their health in the future.
The Care Journey: What Families Can Expect ?
We want to make things clear and predictable during this stressful time. Here’s what a typical surgical care journey looks like:
Evaluation and Diagnosis
- Detailed history, exam, and imaging when needed
- Consultation with relevant pediatric subspecialists
- Discussion of options, risks, benefits, and timing
Pre-Operative Preparation
- Age-appropriate anesthesia planning and fasting guidelines
- Child-friendly explanations to reduce anxiety
- Review of medications and any necessary lab tests
The Day of Surgery
- Warm, supportive environment for children and families
- Child-focused anesthesia and pain prevention strategies
- Parent updates during and immediately after surgery
Recovery and Post-Operative Care
- Pain management designed for children
- Early mobilization and feeding when appropriate
- Clear discharge instructions for home care
Follow-Up and Long-Term Support
- Scheduled visits to monitor healing and development
- Guidance on activity, school return, and sports
- Coordination with rehabilitation or other specialists if needed
Safety, Comfort, and Pain Management
Children deserve care that’s as gentle as it is effective. Our pediatric anesthesia team uses:
- Evidence-based, age-specific sedation and anesthesia protocols
- Multimodal pain control to reduce opioid use
- Non-pharmacological comfort techniques were helpful (e.g., distraction, parental presence during induction when appropriate)
Everything we do is meant to lower fear, keep your child safe, and help them recover smoothly.
Emotional Support and Child Life Principles
Surgery can be intimidating for children and families. We incorporate child life–inspired strategies to:
- Prepare children with simple, reassuring language.
- Use play and visuals to explain procedures.
- Provide calm, supportive environments before and after surgery.
- Include caregivers actively to maintain a sense of security.
These steps help lower anxiety and create a positive, trusting experience for you and your child.
Commitment to Communication and Transparency
Clarity builds confidence. We:
- Explain every step in understandable terms.
- Share likely outcomes and potential risks honestly.
- Offer written instructions and practical checklists.
- Make it easy to reach us with questions before and after surgery.
By focusing on clear communication, we help families feel informed and confident.
Continuous Quality and Innovation
We are committed to evolving with the science. Our department:
- Incorporates current guidelines and best practices in pediatric surgery
- Evaluates outcomes to continually improve safety and effectiveness
- Participates in academic and training initiatives through Liv Hospital Academy
Our commitment to learning and improvement helps every child we care for.
Challenges in Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric surgery also comes with its own unique challenges:
- Because children's anatomical structures are small and delicate, surgical procedures must be carried out with exceptional precision.
- Parents play a crucial role in treatment decisions, making effective communication essential.
- Post-surgical growth and development require ongoing, long-term evaluation and follow-up to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Combining expertise with compassion, the Liv Hospital pediatric surgery team helps children take confident, healthy steps toward the future. We are always here to provide comprehensive, reliable, and innovative surgical solutions for your child's health.
*The Liv Hospital Editorial Board contributed to the publication of this content.* The information on this page is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Note that this content does not include details on medicinal health care services provided at Liv Hospital.
For more information about our academic and training initiatives, visit Liv Hospital Academy
