Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery

​​​​​Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and man​agement of general to highly s​pecialized surgical problems in infants, children and adolescents. Surgeries may be immediate due to a​n injury or be a planned procedure to correct a birth defect or abnormality. 

Pediatric general surgery includes minimally invasive procedures to more complex surgeries that require an inpatient stay.  Your child will receive highly specialized care from a team of board certified surgeons and specially trained pediatric nurses and medical staff who focus on the unique needs of children.

Pediatric Surgeries

• General

  General surgery treats the abdomen including the stomach, colon, esophagus, liver, pancreas, small bowel, appendix, bile ducts and other common procedures. General surgeons repair birth defects often diagnosis prenatally.

• Cancer

  Cancer Surgery is the removal of solid tumors. The type of surgery depends on the part of the body and the amount of tissue to be removed.

• Colorectal

  Colorectal diseases comprise a wide range of conditions and ailments ranging from mild to severe. Colorectal diseases can include Hirschsprung disease, anal and rectal malformations (e.g. imperforate anus), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, anal fissure and bowel incontinence.

• Endocrine

  Endocrine surgery treats diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and adrenal glands. The endocrine system controls hormones, the body’s ability to change calories into energy, bone and tissue growth and the heartbeat.

• Pectus

  Pectus surgery treats pectus excavatum, a condition that causes the chest to have a sunken or inward appearance, and pectus carinatum, a condition where the chest protrudes or bulges outward. Symptoms include shortness of breath, asthma-like symptoms and occasionally chest pain.

• Thoracic

  Thoracic surgery refers to surgery on organs in the chest and chest wall including the lungs, esophagus, ribs and mediastinal structures. Surgery can be minimally invasive, or may need to be an open surgical procedure if large portions of the lung or inner chest cavity need to be seen. Reasons to see a thoracic surgeon can include esophageal abnormalities, lung nodules/masses, including congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), excessive sweating, heartburn, and trouble swallowing or chest wall deformity.

• Thyroid

  Thyroid surgery treats a number of conditions related to the thyroid, the organ that produces hormones to help control metabolism. Depending on the reason for the surgery, all or a portion of the thyroid is removed. The most common reasons for thyroid surgery are goiters, Graves’ disease, cysts, hormonal imbalances and cancer.

• Tumor​

  Tumor surgery is surgical removal of solid tumors (benign and malignant), soft tissue tumors and cysts, including those in the bowel, kidneys, reproductive organs, stomach and thyroid.

• Urology

  The urology system is comprised of the reproductive and urinary organs. While ma​ny diseases are detected on a fetal ultrasound before a child is born, it is not uncommon for some conditions to show symptoms later in life or after an immune disorder or bacterial infection. Causes of urological disorders can include congenital anomalies, trauma, infectious diseases and urinary disorders. Common procedures include circumcisions and hernia surgeries.

Your Child's Surgical Stay

Whether your child has a temporary or extended stay at Boys Town Hospital, you will find comfort in a private family-friendly room with access to portable gaming stations and a playroom. Family and friends may visit before and after your child's surgery, as well as wait in the comfort and privacy of your child's room during surgery.

Learn more about our Surgi​cal Services