Pediatric Surgery Clinical Services

Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy are now utilized for diagnoses as well as treatment of many standard pediatric surgery diagnoses. These include appendicitis, cholelithiasis, gastroesophageal reflux, lung lesions, Hirschsprung’s disease, chest wall deformities, splenic pathology, inguinal hernias, and tumors. These techniques are being requested and applied more and more because of the advantages of reduced recovery time, shorter hospital stays, less discomfort, smaller scars, and in some cases, lower costs.

The Pediatric Liver Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado is managed jointly by the hepatologists (liver specialists), pediatric surgeons, and transplantation surgeons. The multidisciplinary clinic is a regional resource, specifically designed to meet the needs of children with all kinds of liver and bile-duct diseases such as biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, and liver tumors (hepatoblastoma). The staff of the Pediatric Liver Center are internationally recognized for contributions leading to new discoveries in diagnosis, treatment and surgery for pediatric hepatobiliary disorders.

Children’s Hospital Colorado is a regional referral site for treatment of pediatric cancer. Pediatric Surgery, in cooperation with Oncology, provides surgical care for infants and children with cancer, including surgical resection of tumors of the neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities, as well as placement of hundreds of lines and ports for intravenous access for chemotherapy.

Neonatal surgery is a vital area for training and education in pediatric surgery. Children’s Hospital Colorado is a regional referral center for infants with abdominal-wall defects such as gastroschisis and omphalocele, intestinal atresias, and cystic lung lesions such as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations, bronchopulmonary sequestration, and hybrid lesions. In addition, we have a dedicated team that takes care of babies with respiratory problems, particularly those infants with pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension, requiring cutting-edge therapies such as high-frequency ventilation, nitric oxide, and ECMO.

The International Center for Colorectal and Urogenital Care at the University of Colorado Pediatric Surgery Division of Children’s Hospital Colorado was established in February of 2016. Dr. Andrea Bischoff is the Director and Dr. Luis de La Torre is the Assistant Director. The Center specializes in the medical and surgical management of anorectal and urogenital malformations (imperforate anus, cloaca, cloacal exstrophy, urogenital sinus, vaginal atresia), Hirschsprung disease, idiopathic constipation, intestinal motility disorders, and fecal incontinence. The Center is integrated by a multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Duncan Wilcox (Surgeon in Chief and Chief of Urology), Dr. Veronica Alaniz (pediatric and adolescent gynecology), Dr. Jaime Belkind-Gerson (neuro-gastroenterology), Dr. Michael Handler (Pediatric Neurosurgery), Dr. Mark A. Erickson (Orthopedic Surgery) and Dr. Courtney Selberg (Orthopedic Surgery), Dr. Mark Lovell and Dr. Michael Arnold (Pathology), Dr. Laura Judd-Glossy (psychologist), social workers, APPs, and nurses. The Center offers a comprehensive management of these conditions, from the pre-natal stage in collaboration with the fetal care center, until adult life, with emphasis on “Transitional Care,” in collaboration with Dr. John Vogel (Chief of Colorectal Surgery at the University Hospital), Dr. Dan Wood (Urologist), and Dr. Veronica Alaniz (Ob/Gyn).

Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is the only American College of Surgeons verified Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center in the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. We serve a large geographic area encompassing seven states, extending south from the Canadian border through Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Western Nebraska, Kansas, and the entire state of Colorado.

As a tertiary and quaternary referral center, Children’s provides comprehensive trauma care for all pediatric trauma patients. This care begins at the time of initial contact with our transfer center (720-777-8838), which coordinates two-way communication between pre-hospital/referring hospital providers and our emergency-medicine physicians and trauma surgeons. This allows us to anticipate each patient’s unique needs prior to his or her arrival.

Pediatric trauma care at Children’s Hospital Colorado is provided by a multidisciplinary group composed of pediatric surgeons, sub-specialty surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, pediatric intensivists, medical specialists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and rehabilitation specialists. Dr. Shannon Acker is the Trauma Medical Director.

See more info on the Trauma Program on the Children’s Hospital website.

Children’s Hospital Colorado is home to the only pediatric burn center in a seven-state region. Our burn team includes burn surgeons, specially trained nurses, physical and occupational therapists who specialize in the care of burn-injured children, child life specialists, a psychologist, nutritionists, and social workers.

Our focus, as a team, is to provide comprehensive burn care for children with all types of burn injuries, from very small superficial burns of the hands or face that heal on their own to very large, deep burns that require surgical management. Burn care at Children’s Hospital Colorado extends beyond the physical healing to include psychosocial support. Support programs include school reentry, burn camps, and community engagement through our outreach efforts and juvenile fire-setting program. This work would not be possible without the philanthropic support of multiple donors and partner organizations, including Schomp Automotive, Denver Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, Hot Times Kool Cars, and the Colorado Firefighter Calendar group. The Director of the Burn Program is Dr. John Wiersch. 

See more info on the Burn Program on the Children’s Hospital website.

• Appendectomy
• Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
• Antireflux Procedure
• Pyloroplasty/Gastric Resection
• Gastrostomy/Jejunostomy
• Pyloromyotomy
• Operation for Malrotation
• Duodenal Atresia
• Repair Intestinal Atresia, Stenosis or Web
• Necrotizing Enterocolitis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Intestinal Resection (Meckel’s Duplication, Meconium Ileus, etc.)
• Intestinal Resection/Repair or Ostomy for IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
• Intestinal Resection/Repair for Trauma
• Bowel Resection
• Laparotomy or Resection for Intussusception
• Ostomy for Anorectal Malformation
• Ostomy for Hirschsprung’s Disease
• Perineal Procedure for Imperforate Anus
• Pull-through Procedure for Hirschsprung's Disease, IBD, or Imperforate Anus (Posterior Sagittal, Abdominal, Sacral, etc.)
• Exploratory Laparotomy
• Excision of Omental/Mesenteric Cyst
• Omphalocele
• Gastroschisis
• Resection Urachal Remnant
• Resection Omphalomesenteric Duct/Cyst
• Excision Neuroblastoma/Adrenal/Other Retroperitoneal Tumor
• Excision Sacrococcygeal Teratoma
• Diagnostic Laparoscopy
• Sutureless repair of simple gastroschisis
• Schuster repairs of giant omphaloceles
• Closure of omphaloceles
• Multidisciplinary approach to compromised abdominal domain

• Major Excision Soft Tissue Tumor & Muscle Biopsy
• Thyroidectomy
• Lymph Node Biopsy
• Resection Chest Wall Tumor
• Excision Mediastinal Tumor
• (Pulmonary Resection Tumor) Metastasis, Congenital Malformation, Infection, etc
• Excision Neuroblastoma/Adrenal/Other Retroperitoneal Tumor
• Major Hepatic Resection for Tumor
• Pancreatic Resection for Tumor
• Splenectomy
• Nephrectomy for Tumor
• Diagnostic Thoracoscopy
• Diagnostic Laparoscopy

• Aortopexy for Tracheomalacia
• Renal Artery Reconstruction and Aortic Reconstruction for Renovascular Hypertension
• Construction or Take Down AV Fistula/Grafts and Insertion of Hemodialysis Catheters for Dialysis Access
• Surgical Placement of Central Access Lines (Broviac, Hickman) and Ports
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Cannulation/Decannulation
• Major Arterial and Venous Vessel Reconstruction

 

• PSARP (posterior sagittal anorectoplasty) for the repair of anorectal malformation
• PSARVUP (posterior sagittal anorecto-vagino-urethroplasty) for the repair of cloacal anomalies
• Total urogenital mobilization for the repair of urogenital sinus
• Malone procedure
• Neo-Malone
• Rectal prolapse repair
• Transanal pullthrough for Hirschsprung disease
• Cloacal exstrophy reconstruction
• Bowel Neo-vagina
• Vaginal reconstruction
• Posterior sagittal approach for presacral removal
• Colostomy
• Ileostomy
• Rectal biopsy

• Repair of Diaphragmatic Hernia
• Plication of Diaphragm
• Transthoracic and/or Retroperitoneal Exposure for Scoliosis
• Repair of Diaphragmatic Hernia: Thoracoscopic, open and the use of muscle flaps
• Plication of Diaphragm
• Transthoracic and/or Retroperitoneal Exposure for Scoliosis

• Diagnostic Thoracoscopy
• Diagnostic Laparoscopy
• Cystoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Laryngoscopy
• Esophagoscopy
• Removal Foreign Body Esophagus or Trachea
• Esophageal Dilatation
• Colonoscopy
• Vaginoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Exam Under Anesthesia

• EXIT–to–ECMO (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment to ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation)
• EXIT–to–Airway
• EXIT–to–Resection
• Selective Fetoscopic Laser Photocoagulation
• Fetoscopic Antegrade Cystoscopy for Valve Ablation
• Thoracoamniotic shunts for high risk cystic lung lesions
• Radiofrequency Ablation of TRAP (Twin-Reversed Arterial Perfusion)
• Fetoscopic Release of Amniotic Bands
• Open Fetal Repair of Myelomeningocele
• Open Fetal Resection of SCT (Sacrococcygeal Teratoma)
• Open Fetal Resection of CPAM (Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation)

• Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresias
• Laparoscopic gastrostomy
• Laparoscopic fundoplication
• Repair of intestinal atresias
• Laparoscopic duodenal atresia repairs
• Laparoscopic Ladd’s procedure for malrotation
• Laparoscopic assisted pull through procedures for Hirschsprung disease
• Management of complex anorectal malformation

• Nephrectomy for Tumor
• Nephrectomy for Trauma
• Nephrectomy for Cystic Dysplasia
• Renal Transplant
• Renal Biopsy
• Cystectomy
• Repair Extrophy
• Nephrostomy
• Operation for Nephro-Uretero Lithiasis
• Enteric Conduit
• Bladder Augmentation or Repair
• Urinary Undiversion
• Pyeloplasty/UPJ Reconstruction
• Ureteral Reconstruction/Reimplantation
• Reconstruct Cloacal Extrophy
• Hypospadias/Epispadias Repair
• Circumcision
• Orchidopexy
• Orchiectomy
• Operation for Torsion Testis or Appendages
• Operation for Varicocele
• Procedures for Intersex
• Oophorectomy
• Hysterectomy/Salpingectomy
• Repair Complex Laceration Vagina/Perineum

• Thyroidectomy
• Parathyroidectomy
• Esophageal surgery
• Esophageal and airway foreign body retrievals
• Lymph Node Biopsy
• Branchial Cleft Cyst/Sinus
• Thyroglossal Duct Cyst/Sinus
• Vascular anomalies (vascular tumors, infantile hemangioma, lymphatic, venous, and arteriovenous malformations)
• Cystic Hygroma/Lymphangioma
• Dermoid/Other Cyst
• Major Tumor (Head & Neck)

• Inguinal Hernia Repair
• Umbilical Hernia Repair
• Ventral/Epigastric Hernia Repair
• Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs

• Major Hepatic Resection for Tumor (Hepatoblastoma, Hepatoma, Adenoma, Focal Nodular Hyperplasia)
• Liver Biopsy (open and needle)
• Liver Transplantation (whole organ, segmental, split, live donor)
• Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic and open)
• Portoenterostomy (Kasai procedure) for Biliary Atresia
• Choledochal Cyst Excision and Reconstruction
• Portosystemic Shunts or Other Operations for Portal Hypertension
• Pancreatic Resection for Trauma, Hyperinsulinism or Tumor
• Operations for Pancreatic Pseudocyst
• Splenorraphy or Splenectomy for Trauma, Cysts or Blood Diseases

• Burn Debridement or Grafting
• Complex Wound Closure
• Breast
• Pilonidal Cyst Excision
• Major Excision Soft Tissue Tumor & Muscle Biopsy
• Major Soft Tissue Repair for Trauma
• Mass or Benign Lesion Excision on Skin

• Tracheostomy
• Repair Chest Wall Deformity (Pectus excavatum — Nuss procedure)
• Resection Chest Wall Tumor
• Excision Mediastinal Cyst
• Excision Mediastinal Tumor
• Pulmonary Resection Tumor, Congenital Malformation, Infection, Etc.
• Thoracotomy for Trauma
• Thoracoscopic resection of lung lesions