Laparascopic Surgery In Babies Discussed At Pediatric Surgery Awareness Week At Odisha’s SUM Hospital

Bhubaneswar: The Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital organised the Pediatric Surgery Awareness Week recently. It included an inter-departmental Continuing Medical Education (CME) program in which the subject of pediatric minimal invasive surgery like Pediatric Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy and Cystoscopy was discussed.

Though unthinkable 25 years ago, advanced technology and instruments available now have made it possible to successfully conduct laparoscopic surgery in babies. The same is being practised at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here, Prof. (Dr) Antaryami Pradhan, Professor of Pediatric Surgery in the hospital, said.

“No one thought it was possible to conduct such surgery in babies when laparoscopic operation was first attempted on adults decades ago. But because of advanced technology and the availability of pediatric laparoscopic instruments, it is possible now,” Dr Pradhan said.

Operations involving hernia, undescended testis, pyeloplasty, pylorimyotomy, appendicectomy, cholecystectomy, intestinal pull-through, and thoracoscopic surgeries are being routinely done these days using such technology with minimal complication, the surgeon said adding more parents were opting for the laparoscopic route.

The advantages of laparoscopic surgery include faster recovery, less pain, good surgical site scar and early discharge from hospital which came as a blessing for both parents and children, he said.

The program was attended by Prof. (Dr) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Prof. Antaryami Pradhan, Prof. Rabindra Bal, Prof. Hiranya K. Mohanty. Prof. Sudhansu Patra, Prof. Lalit Parida, Dr Subash Subudhi, Prof. Mamata Devi Mohanty, Dr Debasish Nanda and other faculties including pediatric surgeons, paediatricians and neonatologists.