The department of Paediatric Surgery has a ward with a strength of 40 including an eight-bed intensive care unit and a separate operation theatre complex. The department deals with a wide spectrum of cases below the age of twelve years.
The department runs outpatient clinics thrice a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 10:00am to 12:00pm at O.P.D. number 7. The department has a follow-up O.P.D on Friday from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Elective operation list runs five days a week Monday to Friday. The total surgeries performed annually are about 2900; 700 of which are major operations.
Division of Paediatric Surgery covers a wide area of work namely :
Operations conducted by Paediatric surgeon are:
- General Paediatric Surgery
Hernia, Hydrocele, Appendix, Circumcision, Neck swellings, etc. - Paediatric Urology
Kidney - Hydronephrosis (swelling), Stone, Cancer and Duplex (double kidney) diagnosis and treatment is done.
Bladder (Urine Bag) absent bag, Stones, Cancer, Urine refluxing (going) up, Valves (Curtain) and bleeding is diagnosed and managed by open and endoscopic techniques.
Testis absent, Undescended testis (located in abdomen), Torsion testis (twisted), infected testis is managed by laparoscopic surgeries.
Hypospadias, this operation is done in one/two stages and the opening is brought to the tip. - Paediatric Neonatal Surgery (less than one month old child)
Tracheo-esophageal-fistula(Joined Food and Wind pipes), Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia(absent curtain between chest and stomach), Intestinal stenosis, atresia and webs (multiple curtains in intestine), Malrotation(twisted intestine), Ano-rectal malformations (absent anal opening), Hydrocephalus (increased fluid in head) surgeries are done. - Paediatric Gastro intestinal surgery
Liver Cancer, Abscess (pus), Gall Bladder Stones, Meckels diverticulum, Rectal Bleeding cases are managed.
Surgery for portal hypertension, Spleen - huge, infected, diseased are removed.
Intestine - Hirschsprung's disease (chronic constipation with absent nerves), tumors, bleeding are handled accordingly. - Paediatric Neurosurgery
Hydrocephalus (increased fluid in head).Meningocele and Meningomyelocele (spinal swelling)Encephalocele (swelling of brain and its layers) patients are operated. - Paediatric Thoracic Surgery
Empyema (pus in lung and thorax), Lung tuberculosis, Lung cancer, cancer in chest is detected and operated thoracoscopically. Lung biopsy,CDH are done thoracoscopically. - Paediatric Laparoscopic surgery
Abdominal pain, Tuberculosis, Appendix, Gall Stories, Undescended testes, Fundoplication for Gastro esophageal reflux disease (Food going up the food pipe), Kidney swelling,Empyema (pus in lung and thorax) surgeries are done by pin hole technique - Endoscopy
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis, therapeutic, bleeding varices, esophageal dilatation procedures are done - Intersex
Diagnosis and treatment of children where sex determination is doubtful/difficult
Training facilities
The department runs anMCh course in Paediatric Surgery for which two students are enrolled every year (recognized by M.U.H.S). The department undertakes teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students and nursing staff.
The department has a well-equipped library with plenty of reference books and slides. Journal Club and case presentations are regularly conducted.
The department conducts 6 monthly clinical meetings, which are attended by surgeons from many hospitals in Mumbai.
Research work carried out by the department includes clinical drug trials, studies, publication and analysis of rare case reports and other articles in international journals.
Postgraduate students are encouraged to conduct studies. They are also trained in minimally invasive surgery.
Future directives
The department of Paediatric surgery at LTMMC AND LTMGH under the guidance of Dr. Paras Kothari (Prof. and Head) is planning various activities. Minimally Invasive Surgery is playing a bigger role in the management of surgery of children. The department plans to improve its skills and extend the indications for it. Procurement of instruments and machines necessity for the future: video colonoscope, Endoscopic Laser, Three dimensional minimal access surgery system, Single incision minimal access surgery instruments and ‘C’ arm are some of the machines that the department is in the process of procuring.