Pediatric Cancer Surgery

Pediatric Cancer Surgery Department:-

The practice of Pediatric Surgical Oncology is challenging and needs expertise. At Synergy Institute of Cancer Care and Research our expert team of pediatric Cancer Surgery department formulate treatment plans which have minimum complications, with an emphasis on “Organ Preservation” without compromising oncological outcomes.

The child at SSSHCI is assessed by a team of pediatric oncologists ,surgeon .radiologist,pathologists and after discussion in Tumour Board , we are able to develop a cohesive, integrated and thoughtful approach to his or her care. The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy to shrink large tumors, and adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery in select cases; helps in decreasing the morbidity of cancer surgery in children. Organ preserving surgeries include limb salvage surgery for bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities, nephron sparing surgery for bilateral Wilms’ (kidney) tumors, gross total resection of neuroblastoma encasing major abdominal vessels and fertility preserving surgeries to move the ovaries away from the radiation field (oopheropexy). A team of skilled plastic surgeons help us to reconstruct those body parts which need to be sacrificed for better tumor control; especially for the face, ear, nose, chest wall and limbs. Use of minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and robotic surgery where applicable, facilitate early recovery and decreased hospital stay.  The aim is to achieve a good cosmetic and functional outcome after surgery so that the child can lead a normal life once his/ her cancer is cured.

The doctors and nursing staff of the pediatric surgical operating room are well trained and sensitive to the special needs of children with cancer.  Induction of anesthesia is made pleasant by an experienced anesthesiologist.Post operative pain is well managed with the help of epidural analgesia in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. 

 We use to  place central vascular access devices like PICC line, Hickman Catheter and Chemoport for avoiding pricking of needle time to time.These devices can be used for administering chemotherapy, blood sampling, IV medications as well as transfusion of blood and blood products; thus improving the compliance and making the child’s treatment comfortable.

List of common pediatric solid tumors which need surgery:-

• High-risk neuroblastoma with vascular encasement
• Unilateral and Bilateral Wilms tumor
• Soft Tissue Sarcomas
• Germ cell tumors (Ovarian and testicular)
• Thoracic and Mediastinal masses
• Limb salvage surgery for bone tumors
• Thoracic surgery for metastatic cancer
• Hepatic tumors

Cancers like Leukemia, Lymphoma may also need biopsy of node, bone marrow biopsy,PORT/PICC line insertion and other adjuvant procedures.