2nd Pediatric Surgery Department

The Department

The 2nd Pediatric Surgical Department offers surgical treatment of all the congenital and acquired diseases of the preterm, full-term newborns, children and adolescents. Moreover we are pioneers in application of laparoscopic and thoracoscopic pediatric surgery in Greece with absolute success. With the application of minimally invasive technique, we ensure in our little patient shorter hospitalization, minimum post-operative pain, excellent aesthetic results and quicker return to daily activities.

It should be mentioned that the laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgical department for newborns and children to Mitera Children’s Hospital is unique in Athens, since 2008 until today, with excellent results.
Our primary goal is to provide the best medical patient-centered services to the community and perfect quality of life. Life belongs to the children and our goal is to give them health.

Diseases

Usual Pediatric Surgery diseases treated in the 3rd Pediatric Surgical Department:

• Neonatal Diseases
• Diseases of childhood and puberty

•  Head, neck Diseases
  – Lymphangiomas, teratomas, cysts
  – Supernumerary ears
  – Tongue bridle
• Chest Diseases
  – Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  – Esophageal atresia
  – CCAM
  – Diaphragmatic evantration
  – Chylothorax
• Digestive Disorders
  – Pyloric stenosis
  – Atresia, duodenal stenosis
  – Small intestine atresia
  – Large intestine atresia
  – Atresia of the anus
  – Duplication of the bowel
  – Malrotation
  – Hirschsprung’s disease
  – Necrotizing Enterocolitis
  – Appendicitis
  – Intussusception
  – Meconium plug
  – Meconian peritonitis
  – Biliary Atresia
  – Choledochal cysts
  – Mesenteric cysts
• Genital diseases
  – Ovarian Cysts
  – Cystic ovarian degeneration
  – Inguinal hernia
  – Testicular torsion
• Umbilical disease 
  – Urachal remnant
  – Omphalomesenteric remnant
  – Ophalocele
  – Gastroschisis
• Neonatal tumors
  – Neuroblastoma
  – Sacrococcygeal teratoma
  – Congenital ovarian tumors
  – Hemangioma

•  Head and neck Diseases
  – Lymphangiomas and cysts
  – Branchial remnants
  – Tryreoglossal cyst
  – Supernumerary ear
  – Cervical teratomas
• Chest Diseases
  – Thoracic empyema
  – Lung absces
  – CCAM
  – Pneumothorax
  – Chylothorax
  – Esophageal achalasia
• Digestive Disorders
  – Gastroesophageal reflux
  – Stomach torsion
  – Malrotation
  – Acute appendicitis
  – Peritonitis
  – Meckel remnant
  – Omentum torsion
  – Duplication of the bowel
  – Inflammatory bowel diseases
  – Hirschsprung’s disease
  – Urachal remnants
  – Cholelithiasis
  – Bile Duct Cyst
  – Hypersplenism
  – Intestinal obstruction
  – Solid organ Injuries
• Urinary Diseases
  – Vesicoureteral reflux
  – Hydronephrosis
  – Megaureter
  – Multicystic kidney
• Genital Diseases
  – Ovarian Cysts
  – Inguinal hernia
  – Hydrocele
  – Undescended testis
  – Hypospadias
  – Testicular torsion
  – Varicocele
  – Ovarian, fallopian tube torsion
  – Hematometra 
  – Phimosis 
  – Bending penis
• Tumors
  – Neuroblastoma
  – Nefroblastoma
  – Sacrococcygeal teratoma
  – Ovarian tumors
  – Testicular tumors
  – Lymphangioma
  – Hemangioma 
  – Thyroid tumors
  – Thymic tumors
  – Sarcomas
• Soft tissue disorders
  – Coccygeal cyst
  – Umbilical hernia
  – Hernia of linea alba
  – Gynecomastia
  – Larger nipple
  – Ingrown toenail
  – Cutaneous nevi
  – Lipoma, cyst
  – Abscess
  – Injuries
  – Burns

Treatment

The application of minimally invasive surgery in the abdomen and chest is our primary goal. We use laparoscopy and thoracoscopy instead of open surgeries, thus provide many benefits to our patients, as safer and faster surgery, excellent outcome, minimum postoperative pain, shorter of hospitalization time, as well as, an excellent aesthetic result.

Procedures

Before the surgery, preoperative check is mandatory. In most cases, we need only complete blood count and serum glucose. Depending on the background history of our small patient and the current disease, we need the following exams:

Laboratory tests:

• Full  blood count
• Biochemistry
• Hormonal tests

Imaging tests:

• Radiography x-Ray
• Ultrasound
• Barium swallow test, Cystography
• CT scan
• MRI

Pediatric Surgical Oncology

We specialize on surgical oncology of neck, chest, abdomen, genitals as well as soft tissue sarcomas including rabdomyosarcomas of the urinary system. We firmly believe that children deserve “correct, oncologicaly appropriate, surgery”, to maximize their chances of long-term survival.  This can be achieved through knowledge of pediatric oncology protocols, of how far, in every specific tumor type, a surgeon is allowed to go and familiarity with intraop “behavior” of different types of tumor tissues. In general it is important for the surgeon to be very familiar with all the “dos and don’ts” of Pediatric Surgical Oncology.  In addition, we offer all the support an oncology department requires including state of the art Central Venous Catheter placement and management as well as dealing with treatment complications.

Most common tumors treated by oncology department

• Neuroblastoma
• Nephroblastoma (Wilms’)
• Rabdomyosarcoma
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Germ Cell Tumors
• Retroperitonial tumors
• SQ port and Hickman Line placement