What is Pediatric Surgery?
Pediatric surgery is a subspecialty of surgery. It involves the diagnostic, operative, and postoperative surgical care of infants, fetuses, children, and young adults.
If we talk about our capital City-Delhi, there are many hospitals. Some are the best cancer hospital, best heart hospitals, and some come on the list of best paediatric surgery hospitals
As per your requirement, we would advise you to visit super-specialty hospitals to get a range of services under one roof.
Children and Pediatric Surgery
Children are sensitive towards injections and hospitals. It can be challenging and stressful to prepare your child for medical treatment and specifically for any surgery.
The challenge you face gets different as per the age and maturity of the child. But, generally, most parents feel anxious about an upcoming surgery or similar procedure.
Do not panic in such a situation. In case of heart ailments requiring surgery, a visit to the best heart hospital in Delhi will help you handle this and prepare your child for pediatric heart surgery.
Tips for parents:
Always approach the best pediatric hospital in or near the town.
1.) Exhibit confidence: A child comes to know how you feel. A worry on your face imparts the same in him. Take deep breaths, be cheerful while taking your child to the hospital.
2.) Be truthful: Hiding the basic information on treatment or the hospital can create mistrust in the child. Instead, let the child know about procedures.
3.) Follow your child’s lead. Do not force the discussion on your child. However, be ready to talk about it while playing or any other fun activity.
4.) Talk to older children: Start talking to teenagers and preschoolers a few days before the surgery. Ask questions to your child. It is a sensible way to find out how you can help him.
5.) Prepare your child’s Siblings: Surgery is challenging for the entire family. Siblings get emotional towards their hospitalized sibling and seek attention .
Tips according to the age of the child:
Learn how each age group of children may need specific ways to help them cope with their procedure.
- Newborns and Infants: adhere to the sleeping and eating schedule of your child a few days before the surgery,
- The change in schedule and the new sights, sounds, and smells irritate the child. Calm down your baby by rocking him in your arms and bringing his favorite toy. It keeps the child busy and distracted. You may or may not get permission to be present in the operating room during the surgery. It depends on the surgeon.
- Toddlers: Compared with infants, toddlers can be more prone to separation anxiety. Give simple explanations of what is happening to your toddler. In the days before surgery, tell them that the doctor will make them feel better.
On the day of the surgery, food or drink is not allowed that may make your child fussy. The hospital scenario upsets them so you can engross them with activities such as drawing and coloring. Many hospitals have play areas to keep the child occupied.
- Preschool Children– Children at the preschool stage are old enough to understand the concept of surgery. That scares them much more than infants. Though handling both infants and preschool children is almost the same. Like infants, preschoolers must know several days before the surgery. Parents should make the kids sure that the surgery will make them better and ensure that they get adequate rest.
On the day of surgery, comfort your child by giving them their favorite objects.
- School-Aged Children- School-going children are old enough to keep their worries and fear to themselves. However, that becomes a matter of concern for parents. Assure them that their surgery will go well and everything will be fine. Before surgery, your child will surely miss time away from activities with friends and school. Comfort them about all those activities they can rejoin after treatment.
On the day of surgery, school-aged children worry that they will be left alone during the procedure. You need to assure them about your presence in the operating room during anesthesia (if the pediatric surgeon allows). Give them their favorite books.
- Tweens and Teens- a child is now old enough to understand what happens during surgery. They may fear dying, getting disfigured, or being different from their peers after surgery. Thus they require a more detailed explanation. Make your teens a part of discussions with the doctor. On the day of surgery, talk to your child. Keep them involved in other activities, thus diverting their mind from surgery stress.
These kids are mature enough to understand the standard of the hospital. So ensure them about the treatment at the best pediatric hospital.
To conclude:
It is normal to be anxious at the time of surgery. But the right way of handling the situation can ease nerves and lead to a peaceful mind. Therefore, the parents need to have thorough conversations with the doctor by visiting the best pediatric surgery hospitals, and that will result in a successful outcome.
