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Pediatric Surgery

young girl in hospital bed

Needing an operation and staying in the hospital can be one of a child's and their family’s toughest challenges. Children have different needs for care than adult patients. And when a child requires treatment, their family needs to be cared for as well. 

At UVA Health Children's, nothing is more important to us than the health of your child. Our pediatric surgical team includes surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, and specialized technicians. All of whom have the expertise to provide comprehensive and high-quality surgical care for your child. 

We perform surgery to treat a range of childhood conditions, from those that occur more commonly, such as appendicitis and hernias, to rare conditions that require more complex surgical procedures. We care for children of all ages, from prenatal counseling for mothers carrying fetuses with surgical conditions to young adults.

Compassion, Experience, & Expertise

There's a reason that healthcare providers across Virginia refer their youngest patients to UVA Health Children's. Our surgical specialists work with team members from other specialties to provide comprehensive care that's centered on patients and families.  

Our surgeons have expertise in minimally invasive surgery approaches (laparoscopic, thoracoscopy, robotic surgery) and the entire spectrum of surgical childhood conditions. This ranges from common concerns, like hernias and appendicitis, to rare conditions that require complex, multidisciplinary care and decision-making.

Areas of Surgical Expertise

  • Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, robotic surgery)
  • Adolescent bariatric surgery
  • Blood disorders requiring splenectomy, including spherocytosis, ITP and sickle cell anemia
  • Childhood cancer and solid tumors, including hepatoblastoma, Wilms tumor and neuroblastoma
  • Colorectal diseases, including Hirschsprung disease, Anorectal malformations and Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis)
  • Complex chest wall reconstruction for pectus excavatum and carinatum
  • Congenital abdominal wall defects such as omphalocele and gastroschisis
  • Congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, including esophageal, duodenal, and intestinal atresias
  • Endocrine surgery (thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and pancreas)
  • Female reproductive tract anomalies, including imperforate hymen and vaginal septum
  • Fetal diagnosis and neonatal surgery, including Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
  • Gallbladder diseases such as cholelithiasis and cholecystitis
  • Gastroesophageal reflux and failure to thrive
  • Head and neck masses, such as dermoid cysts and branchial cleft cysts
  • Hepatobiliary diseases such as biliary atresia and choledochal cysts
  • Hernias, including inguinal, umbilical and epigastric hernias, hydroceles, and congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH)
  • Pediatric trauma
  • Thoracic and lung surgery (including bronchogenic cysts, congenital lobar emphysema, pulmonary sequestration, and congenital pulmonary malformations)
  • Undescended testicles and phimosis

Our Pediatric Surgery Team

Our surgeons have advanced training in pediatric surgery and general surgery. In addition to surgeons, the pediatric care team includes:

We also make sure to take special care with anesthesiology and pain management for children.

Staying Close to Your Child

When your kid needs medical care, it can be difficult to focus on other details. In addition to the area’s many hotels and other lodging options, the UVA Children’s Hospital Housing Collaborative can work with you to find a place to stay that is convenient and welcoming. Contact us for help.