If your child needs surgery, as a parent or guardian, you probably have a lot of questions. WVU Medicine Children’s Pediatric Surgery specialists understand how parents – and kids – feel before surgery and after. Our multidisciplinary surgical team of surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals, as well as child life specialists, are here to help ease fears and answer any questions you may have. Your child’s safety, comfort, and care are our highest priority.
If you’re a pregnant mom and your obstetrician has identified a condition that requires your baby to have surgery after birth, our surgical team is here to collaborate throughout the prenatal and postnatal process.
From infancy to adolescence and young adulthood, you can count on our advanced surgical care to be delivered in a comforting environment for the patient and family. Our surgeons use advanced surgical technologies including endoscopic, robotic, minimally invasive approaches like thoracoscopy or laparoscopy whenever possible.
These minimally invasive methods result in fewer and smaller incisions, and often result in less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery. Our experienced pediatric surgical team treats congenital and neonatal appendicitis; bone fractures; bowel disorders, such as blockages; cancer; cleft palate; heart defects; hernias; spina bifida; trauma; and urological conditions.
Treatments and Services
No matter what type of surgery your child needs, we offer advanced technologies and the expertise of a surgical team that treats conditions affecting children at every age. Our surgeons have experience in treating many conditions affecting the lungs and heart; abdominal organs, like the colon; abdominal and chest wall; brain; and endocrine system. Our surgical services include:
Cancer Surgery
Our pediatric specialty surgical services work as a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric oncologists, radiologists, dedicated nurses, and other medical professionals. They provide advanced surgical care for children with a wide variety of conditions, such as:
- Brain tumors
- Sarcoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Wilms tumor
- Tumors of the liver
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Your child will have access to the most innovative heart procedures available. We treat congenital heart conditions, such as atrial septal defect (a hole in the heart wall), abnormal blood flow (tetralogy of Fallot), and heart rhythm disorders.
Chest Wall Surgery
Our surgical team offers care for children and teens suffering from various chest wall deformities. The two most common types are Pectus Carinatum, also known as “pigeon chest” or “raised chest”, and Pectus Excavatum, also known as “sunken chest” or “funnel chest”.
Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery
Children receive expert specialty care for craniofacial conditions, including cleft lip, cleft palate, and other disorders requiring correction through plastic surgery.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery (Otolaryngology)
Our experienced team of ENT specialists includes pediatric otolaryngologists, audiologists, nurse practitioners, and speech-language pathologists. They provide advanced surgical care for conditions affecting the head and neck, including:
- Breathing disorders
- Cancer
- Deviated septum
- Hearing disorders
- Swallowing disorders
- Tonsillitis
Eye Surgery (Ophthalmology)
Pediatric eye specialists focus on routine and specialized care that includes surgery for conditions affecting vision and general eye health of children. We offer the most advanced eye surgery procedures, including:
- Corneal ring implants
- Laser photocoagulation for blood vessels in the eyes
- Oculoplastic reconstructive surgery to repair eye socket bones
- Scleral buckling for detached retina
- Strabismus surgery (lazy eye)
- Tear duct surgery
General Surgery
General pediatric surgeons use advanced, minimally invasive technologies to treat a variety of conditions affecting newborns, children, adolescents, and young adults.
As the region’s only Level II pediatric trauma center designated by the American College of Surgeons, our pediatric surgeons work in collaboration with our specialized adult trauma team to offer outstanding multispecialty surgical care for young trauma patients. General pediatric surgeons treat a broad spectrum of conditions, such as:
- Appendicitis
- Birth defects (congenital conditions)
- Conditions that affect the esophagus including swallowing problems
- Cysts
- Different types of hernias
- Gastrointestinal disorders, such as gallbladder disease, reflux, gallstones, and birth defects that involve the development of the intestinal tract and bowel
- Hirschsprung’s disease (missing nerve cells in the bowels)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Tumors
Neonatal Surgery
Newborns receive expert neonatal surgical care for conditions present at birth. These can include:
- Anorectal malformations
- Esophageal blockage
- Heart conditions
- Hirschsprung’s disease (missing nerve cells in the bowels)
- Intestinal obstruction
- Pulmonary and chest wall abnormalities
Neurosurgery
Infants, children, and adolescents get expert surgical care for neurological and congenital conditions affecting the brain, spine, and nervous system, such as:
- Brain aneurysm
- Brain tumors
- Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain)
- Spina bifida
Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic conditions that affect growing children are different from those of adults and require special knowledge, sensitivity, and skill. Children from newborn to 18 years old receive expert surgical care for injuries or conditions affecting the bones, joints, and muscles. These include:
- Congenital abnormalities
- Fractures
- Neuromuscular conditions, like cerebral palsy
- Spinal conditions, like scoliosis (spinal curvature)
Trauma
Children with trauma injuries receive care from the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center, the region’s only nationally verified Level I Trauma Center. We work with WVU Medicine Children’s pediatric intensive care specialist to treat injuries resulting from falls, blunt force, and accidents including, bikes, cars, and ATVs.
Urology Surgery
Children from newborn to age 18 receive comprehensive care from our fellowship-trained urologic surgeons. Nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, we use advanced technologies, like robotic-assisted surgery to treat conditions, including:
- Hydrocele
- Incontinence
- Kidney and bladder conditions, such as stones or masses
- Penile and testicular conditions, like phimosis and undescended testicles
- Ureteral reflux
Intensive Care Services
We provide expert, compassionate pediatric and neonatal intensive care for newborns and children of all ages. Whether your child is recovering from a life-threatening condition or is recovering from surgery, you can expect we’ll be there for you and your child every step of the way.
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Fellowship-trained pediatric intensive care doctors provide children — from infancy through young adulthood — expert care for serious conditions and post-surgical care for complex procedures. These include cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, orthopaedic surgery, and general surgery. Our Level 1 PICU has the highest ranking from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Critically ill or premature babies receive specialized care in our neonatal intensive care unit. We also treat newborns with genetic conditions, neurological issues, and cardiac problems. Our highly specialized neonatologists work closely with obstetricians, surgeons, respiratory specialists, and advanced practice and neonatal-trained nurses for the best possible family-centered care.
