Neonatal surgery is a highly specialized field within pediatric surgery that focuses on surgical interventions for newborn babies, typically those under one month of age. These procedures are often complex and are performed to correct congenital conditions (birth defects) or conditions that develop shortly after birth and require immediate or early surgical attention.
Why is Neonatal Surgery Performed?
Neonatal surgery is crucial for addressing life-threatening conditions or those that could severely impact a baby’s long-term health and development. Many of these conditions are detected during prenatal scans, while others become apparent immediately after birth or in the subsequent weeks.
Key Areas of Neonatal Surgery
1. Congenital Malformations
Gastrointestinal
- Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula
- Duodenal atresia
- Intestinal atresia
- Malrotation with volvulus
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Omphalocele and gastroschisis
- Anorectal malformations
Thoracic
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Pulmonary sequestration
- Congenital lobar emphysema
Neurological
- Meningomyelocele
- Encephalocele
Genitourinary
- Posterior urethral valves
- Bladder exstrophy
2. Tumors in Neonates
- Sacrococcygeal teratoma (most common)
- Neuroblastoma
- Congenital mesoblastic nephroma
3. Infections & Emergencies
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Meconium peritonitis
- Intestinal perforation
4. Minimally Invasive Neonatal Surgery
- Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures are increasingly being used in selected cases.
