Who is a Pediatric Surgeon?
Pediatric surgeons (پیڈیاٹرک سرجن) are doctors who specialize on operating on children; from newborn babies to adolescents up to the age of 18 years. Doctors have to undergo rigorous training process to become a pediatric surgeon.
When should you see a Pediatric Surgeon?
Parents are often referred to a pediatric surgeon in Karachi by their family physical, or their pediatrician. Similarly, it is important to visit the child-specialist surgeon when the baby is suffering from congenital issues.
They also offer surgical treatment of some of the birth defects (پیدائشی نقائص کی سرجری), babies with issues like cleft palate need to be taken to a pediatric surgeon then.
Children who have suffered from injuries that then require surgery are also to be duly taken to the pediatric surgeon. Those suffering from tumor or cancer also need a pediatric surgeon for the removal of the mass.
Since they perform abscess drainage and also help with wound repairing, children requiring these interventions ought to be taken to the pediatric surgeon (پیڈیاٹرک سرجن). Children with appendicitis also need to be overseen by a pediatric surgeon.
What are a Pediatric Surgeon’s main areas of concern?
Pediatric surgeons offer surgical treatment for the various issues that afflict children.
They treat abnormalities of the groin. These include issues like undescended testes, hernia, etc.
They also treat serious health conditions like liver lacerations. Trauma, like gunshot wound, and injury in children is also addressed by pediatric surgeon. Some children need organ transplants, and this process is also overseen by pediatric surgeon.
Moreover, pediatric surgeons (بچوں کا سرجن ) also perform diagnostic procedures like bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopy. They are also qualified to perform laparoscopic surgeries, which are less invasive surgeries, but are not possible in all cases.
GI issues addressed by pediatric surgeons include imperforate anus, meconium plugs, intestinal atresia, etc. Similarly, they also treat urological problems like chordee, Ureteric reflux, etc.
Defects like chest wall deformities, gastroschisis, amongst others, are also the domain of a pediatric surgeon.
They also perform elective procedures like circumcision as well.
What are the most common Pediatric diseases in Pakistan?
Unlike the developed world, where injuries present as the leading cause of death in children, the challenges facing a developing country like Pakistan are different in nature.
Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death amongst children in Pakistan; 60% of the deaths occur on account of these diseases.
While controlling the infectious diseases is momentous task unto itself, there are other factors that perpetuate the condition of children.
Poor hygiene, sanitation and immunization alongside malnutrition greatly exacerbate the condition of the children in Pakistan.
Then, there is also the matter of maternal health and nutrition, and the neglect that it has been suffering from the years. Naturally, malnourished women will have similarly distressed babies.
There is also the lack of specialized medical care available to the children, despite the high birth rate. Moreover, there is also a dearth of quality research regarding pediatric problems and pediatric surgical issues in particular.
According to research published in BMC Emergency Medicine, following are the salient pediatric issues reported in the emergency departments across the country:
|
Presenting Complaints
|
% Of the patients
|
|
Injury
|
39.4
|
|
Constitution (example fever, lethargy etc.)
|
18.9
|
|
Gastrointestinal
|
18.3
|
|
Respiratory
|
13.7
|
|
Neurological
|
12.8
|
|
Cardiovascular
|
6.3
|
|
Musculoskeletal
|
6.0
|
|
Eye and otolaryngology
|
2.3
|
|
Genitourinary
|
2.1
|
|
Others (skin, psychiatric etc.)
|
3.1
|
How to become a Pediatric Surgeon in Pakistan?
For those aspiring to become a pediatric surgeon in Karachi first have to complete their M.B.B.S and then have to finish a year of training, known as house job. They then have to get certified by the CPSP, by giving the requisite exams and completing the training program.
What kinds of Pediatric Surgeons are there?
Pediatric surgery is further divided into different categories. These include:
- Prenatal surgeon: These surgeons, alongside radiologists, locate problems with the fetus, and plan surgeries for right after birth. Some interventions can also be performed prior to birth, although these techniques are majorly in the experimental phase. These expert doctors also work closely with parents, educating them over the issue facing their yet to be born baby, and the treatment options.
- Neonatal surgeon: These experts usually resolve congenital problems and birth defects. Some of the issues if not addressed in time, can also lead to death. These experts treat infants and preemies.
- Trauma surgeon: Doctors specializing in this field deal with injuries and accidents sustained by children. Trauma is amongst the leading cause of death in children globally, therefore, these surgeons play an extremely important role in the wellbeing of children.
- Pediatric oncologist surgeon: These specialist doctors provide surgical care for children suffering from cancer, or other non-cancerous benign tumor growths.
What are Pediatric Surgeons called in Pakistan?
Pediatric Surgeons are also called:
- Child-specialist surgeon
- Bachoun ka surgeon
- Bachoun-ka-doctor
- پیڈیاٹرک سرجن
- بچوں کا سرجن
- بچوں کی سرجری کا ماہر
