What is paediatric surgery?

Paediatric surgery involves surgical procedures carried out for the healing and well-being of babies, infants, children, and teenagers. Pediatric surgeons at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre treat and operate on different anatomic abnormalities in any area of the growing body. Using advanced procedures and diagnostics, they conduct research into advanced and safe treatment options and techniques for children.

Not every condition needs surgery, but all children deserve the best scientific and medical knowledge available to ensure good quality of life. Our paediatric surgeons know how important it is to get all the details and explanations for your child’s condition. We take our time, listen carefully, and use a collaborative approach when caring for your child.

Request an appointment with a paediatric surgeon today.

When does your child need to see a paediatric surgeon?

If you are a parent or expecting a child, a paediatric surgeon can advise you on the following children’s conditions that may require surgery:

  • Diagnosing abnormalities of a child still in the womb
  • Tonsil removal
  • Recurring ear infections that require surgery
  • Congenital birth defects like when bowels are outside of the body at birth
  • Abnormalities in the digestive system, heart, kidney, and limbs

Our paediatric surgeons also specialise in the treatment of infants born prematurely or with conditions that need neonatal intensive care with specialised equipment. Babies born before 36 weeks may require oxygen and feeding support, to allow their tiny and under-developed organs to grow and mature. And children born extremely prematurely (before 28 weeks) have the best chance for survival and quality of life if managed by paediatricians trained specifically for common conditions of prematurity.

Our experienced specialists who trained at some of the most prestigious medical schools internationally and in Singapore ensure that each young patient receives state-of-the-art medical and surgical care. Besides having the benefit of your doctors’ skills and knowledge, competent office staff, and modern office and hospital technology, you will be fully supported beginning with your first visit.

Enquire with our paediatric surgeons.

Why you should consider our paediatric surgeons

Alleviating pain can be tricky with babies and young children. Our physicians and pharmacists are trained to relieve pain thoroughly as we help you and your loved ones embark on the road to recovery. Healing occurs best in an environment where compassion and empathy prevail.

Providing full-time inpatient and outpatient care tailored to your child’s condition, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre’s paediatric surgeons are experienced in children’s healthcare and address parents’, and caregivers’ needs and questions about the health and quality of life of their children.

Testing, treatment, rehabilitation, immunisation, education, and counselling services at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre aim to support parents in raising healthy and happy children. Your little ones will be cared for as if they were our own.

Major Areas of Specialisation

Below are some of the conditions our Singapore paediatric surgeons treat. Through rigorous and medically proven diagnostics, clinical care, surgery if indicated, and rehabilitation, our specialists can reverse, correct, or slow down the progress of your child’s condition.

  • Abdomen
    • Abdominal wall defects
    • Anorectal malformation
    • Appendicitis
    • Cloaca
    • Duodenal Atresia
    • Gastroschisis, exomphalos, umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia, epigastric hernia
    • Hirschsprung’s disease
    • Imperforate anus
    • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Intestinal duplication
    • Intussusception
    • Jejunal or intestinal atresia
    • Malrotation with volvulus
    • Meckel’s diverticulum or band
    • Meconium disease of the newborn
    • Necrotizing enterocolitis
    • Patent vitelointestinal duct
    • Pyloric stenosis
  • Bronchopulmonary sequestration
  • Chest
    • Bronchogenic cyst
    • Chest wall deformities
    • Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM)
    • Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE)
    • Diaphragmatic hernia or eventration
    • Hiatus hernia
    • Palmar hyperhidrosis
    • Spontaneous pneumothorax
  • Congenital abnormalities
  • Conjoined twins
  • Day surgery
  • Genitourinary
    • Acute scrotum, testicular torsion, torsion of the hydatid of morgagni
    • Bladder extrophy and epispadias
    • Disorders of sex development (DSD, ambiguous genitalia or intersex)
    • Duplex systems with complications
    • Dysfunctional voiding or enuresis
    • Hypospadias
    • Maldescent of the testes
    • Megaureters
    • Neurogenic bladder (due to spina bifida or spinal cord injury)
    • Overactive bladder
    • Patent urachus and urachal cyst
    • Phimosis
    • Posterior urethral valves (PUV), valve bladder syndrome
    • Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction
    • Ureterocele
    • Vesicoureteric junction obstruction
    • Vesicoureteric reflux and urinary tract infections
  • Head and neck
    • Branchial arch or cleft remnants
    • Dermoid cyst
    • Preauricular sinus
    • Thyroglossal cyst
    • Vascular malformations (AV, lymphatic) e.g. cystic hygroma
  • Hepatobiliary
    • Acute or chronic pancreatitis
    • Biliary atresia
    • Choledochal cyst
    • Gall stone disease
    • Liver transplant
    • Portal vein thrombosis
  • Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery)
  • Oesophagus
  • Oesophageal duplication
  • Oesophageal stresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula
  • Paediatric oncology (childhood cancer)
  • Paediatric organ transplantation
  • Paediatric urology
  • Prenatal counselling
  • Surgical problems
    • Digestive tract (oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestines)
    • Hepatobiliary and pancreas (liver, bile ducts, gall bladder and pancreas)
    • Chest (lung, airway, and thoracic cage)
    • Genitourinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra and external genitalia)
  • Tumours
    • Gonadal tumours
    • Hepatoblastoma
    • Neuroblastoma
    • Sacrococcygeal teratoma
    • Wilms’ tumour

Did you know?

Newborn babies can only see people and things clearly when they are 20 to 30 cm away. Visual development in a baby spurts between 2 to 4 months of age. By 10 to 12 months, the visual areas in a baby’s brain are established.