Pediatric Surgery
The Section of Pediatric Surgery within the Clinic of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery at the University Hospital Essen, newly established on 01/20/2010, offers general neonatal and pediatric surgery as well as minimally invasive surgical treatment of congenital and acquired abnormalities and diseases of the pediatric thoracic, abdominal and retroperitoneal space using the most up-to-date techniques.
The Section of Pediatric Surgery works in close cooperation with the Department of Obstetrics at the Women's Hospital (www.uni-essen.de/frauenklinik) and the Department of Neonatology of the Center
for Pediatrics (www.uk-essen.de/index.php?id=neonatologie) and is integrated into the Level 1 neonatal unit of University Hospital of Essen. For instance, joint meetings with the parents of children that suffer from ultrasonically diagnosed congenital diseases, discussing the significance and treatment options after the birth, are held.
In premature infants, who are supervised by our colleagues in the neonatology intensive care unit at Children's Hospital, circulatory disorders of the intestine (called necrotizing enterocolitis) can make a pediatric surgical treatment necessary. In addition, pediatric surgery procedures are performed, for example in case of incomplete development of the esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, the diaphragm,
and the abdominal wall in the first days of life.
Furthermore, many other children can be taken care of by the synergistic use of modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in close cooperation with related disciplines at the University Hospital Essen, like the urology / pediatric urology, anesthesiology, radiology, trauma surgery, orthopedics, ENT clinic, eye clinic, neurosurgery, hand surgery and plastic surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery in children
"Minimally invasive surgery" describes surgical techniques that are performed via laparoscopy or thoracoscopy. Minimally invasive surgery avoids large abdominal and chest incisions. Using only small incisions, a camera and special instruments are inserted.The advantages of minimally invasive pediatric surgery compared to conventional methods are:
- barely visible scars (cosmetics)
- less post-operative pain
- slight impairment of the immune system
- faster recovery of gastrointestinal motility
- shorter hospital stay
- faster recovery.
The decision regarding the surgical approach must be always taken individually.
Selected minimally invasive procedures:
- Treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax (bulla resection)
- Biopsy in unclear pulmonary diseases
- Biopsy / removal of thoracic tumors (eg neuroblastoma)
- Treatment of congenital cystic lung malformations (eg lung sequester)
- Treatment of congenital malformations of the esophagus (esophageal atresia)
- Treatment of congenital malformations of the diaphragm (diaphragmatic hernia)
- Minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum (technique according to Donald Nuss)
- Interventions at the cardia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (backflow of stomach and intestinal contents into the esophagus)
- Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (pylorus spasm)
- Feeding fistulas into the stomach / small intestine
- Gall bladder removal during inflammation or gall bladder stone disease
- Liver biopsies
- Surgical treatment of cysts of liver or spleen
- Total or partial splenectomy associated with hematologic disease (eg spherocytosis)
- Biopsy in the abdomen / retroperitoneum in tumours of unknown dignity defining the treatment strategy according to national and international cancer study protocols (eg staging)
- Removal of benign / malignant tumors of the abdomen / retroperitoneum (eg neuroblastoma)
- Appendectomies (also single-Incison Laparoscopic Surgery-with only one trocar at the navel)
- Implantation of peritoneal dialysis catheters for peritoneal dialysis
In close cooperation with the / through the Department of Pediatric Urology:
- Undescended testicle (Fowler-Stevens I and II)
- Varicocele (varicose veins of the testicle)
- Partial kidney removal in double-kidneys with functionless renal pole
- Kidney removal in a non-functioning kidney
- Correction of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (laparoscopic transabdominal).
- Hypospadia-correction
- Phimosis
- Correction of inguinal hernia, hydrocele, undescended testicles
Selected conventional pediatric surgical operations:
- Surgery for biliary atresia
- Liver / kidney transplants in children of all ages
- Intestinal atresias (duodenal atresia, small intestinal atresia, anal atresia)
- Intestinal development abnormalities (Nonrotation / malrotation)
- Hirschsprung's disease / aganglionosis
- Sacral teratoma
- Inguinal hernia
- Umbilical hernia
- Removal of neck cysts / cervical fistulae
- Tracheostoma
- Resection of Lymphangioma
- Resection of Hemangioma (possible medical treatment with propranolol)
- Implantation of Broviac-, Hickman-, dialysis-, and Port-a-Cath catheter.
Consultation Hours / Contact:
Pediatric Surgery Consultation hours:
Mondays 14:30 - 16:00h, Wednesdays 14:00 - 15:30h and by appointment
Tel: +49 (0) 201 723 1130
Tel: +49 (0) 201 723 1110
Office:
In the Office of Priv.-Doz. Dr. Metzelder, Ms. Tanja Wischnewski answers your questions, particularly on specific office hours, and on the organization of hospital transfers.
Tel: +49 (0) 201 723 1110
Fax: +49 (0) 201 723 1113
E-mail: tanja.wischnewski@uk-essen.de
Contact:
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Martin L. Metzelder, FEAPU
Specialist in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery
Fellow of European Academyof Pediatric Urology
Head of the Pediatric Surgery Section
Clinic of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery
Tel: +49 (0) 201 723 1110
Fax: +49 (0) 201 723 1113
E-mail: martin.metzelder@uk-essen.de
Dr. Nagoud Schukfeh
Specialist in Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgery Section
Clinic of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery
Tel: +49 (0) 201 723 1110
Fax: +49 (0) 201 723 1113
E-mail: nagoud.schukfeh@uk-essen.de
Emergency telephone numbers:
+49 (0)201 4373677
Pediatric clinic
Neonatology intensiv care unit
+49 (0)201 723 1140
General surgery
