Pediatric surgeons are guardians of tiny lives

Dr M Yoga Nagendhar

Children are not just small adults. Every year on 29 December, National Pediatric Surgery Day is observed to recognize a specialty dedicated to the surgical care of children — from newborns to adolescents. Pediatric surgery is not merely about operating on smaller bodies; it is about safeguarding fragile lives during their most vulnerable stages and giving children a chance at a healthy future.

Children often present with complex surgical conditions, many of them congenital and life-threatening, involving the lungs, intestines, urinary system, and abdominal organs. Advances in modern pediatric surgery have made it possible to treat these conditions with greater precision, reduced pain, and faster recovery. Even the most intricate procedures are now performed through techniques that minimize trauma, allowing children to return to normal growth and development sooner.

Challenges Pediatric Surgeons Face

However, behind every successful surgery lies an unseen journey of dedication and perseverance. Pediatric surgeons undergo years of specialised training to master the unique challenges of operating on tiny, delicate anatomy. Long hours in the operating theater, intense physical and mental strain and the emotional responsibility of caring for children weigh heavy. Each decision made during surgery carries lifelong implications for the child and family.Pediatric Surgeon thinks twice before planning and putting a knife on these delicate babies to give the best outcomes.

What sustains pediatric surgeons through these challenges is a profound sense of purpose. The smile of a recovering child, the relief of anxious parents, and the knowledge that a life has been transformed are rewards beyond measure. These silent victories often go unnoticed, yet they define the very essence of pediatric surgery.

As we observe National Pediatric Surgery Day on December 29 December 2025, it is a moment to acknowledge the skill, compassion, and commitment of pediatric surgeons and their teams. Their work stands as a powerful reminder that when science meets dedication, even the smallest lives can be protected, healed, and given the opportunity to thrive.

Highlights of Advanced Pediatric Syrgery-

• Key hole surgery for kids

• Robotic Surgery for kids

• Advanced Anesthesia for kids

• Care from the mother’s womb

Making a temporary opening in the intestines for the passage of motions-Colostomy in kids is done for birth defects like absent anus or absent nerve cells (Hirschsprung’s disease) or damaged large intestines. The family should take care of this colostomy until the reversal operation is performed after an appropriate period and weight gain. During this time, parents, especially mothers, need a lot of emotional and moral support apart from the colostomy care guidance.

Dr M Yoga Nagendhar is Chief Consultant Pediatric Surgeon, Pediatric Urologist,
Laparoscopic Surgeon & Robotic Surgeon at KIMS Cuddles, Secunderabad