Paediatric Surgery Course

Lesson 1 • Developmental Stages and Surgical Risk

Examines how neonatal, infant, and adolescent physiology alters surgical risk profiles. Links developmental stage to anaesthetic and operative strategy.

Lesson 2 • Nutritional Support in Paediatric Patients

Addresses enteral and parenteral nutrition strategies for surgical paediatric patients. Adequate nutrition accelerates wound healing and reduces complication rates.

Lesson 3 • Ethical and Legal Frameworks

Defines consent, assent, and parental authority in paediatric surgical decisions. Establishes the ethical reasoning framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Paediatric Anatomy and Physiology

Covers organ size ratios, airway geometry, and cardiovascular differences by age group. Provides the anatomical baseline required for safe operative planning.

Lesson 1 • Regional Anaesthesia in Children

Introduces caudal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks used in paediatric surgery. Regional techniques reduce opioid requirements and improve recovery.

Lesson 2 • Airway Management Techniques

Teaches mask ventilation, laryngoscopy, and difficult airway algorithms adapted for paediatric anatomy. Airway failure is the leading cause of paediatric anaesthetic mortality.

Lesson 3 • Postoperative Pain and Recovery

Covers multimodal analgesia, PACU monitoring, and emergence delirium management. Effective pain control is essential for early mobilisation and discharge.

Lesson 4 • Inhalational and Intravenous Agents

Compares pharmacokinetics of volatile agents and intravenous drugs in paediatric patients. Agent selection directly affects induction speed and recovery quality.

Lesson 1 • Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Covers classification, preoperative stabilisation, and primary repair techniques. Early diagnosis and correct repair prevent aspiration pneumonia and stricture.

Lesson 2 • Abdominal Wall Defects

Distinguishes gastroschisis from omphalocele and outlines staged vs. primary closure strategies. Correct defect classification guides closure timing and technique.

Lesson 3 • Intestinal Obstruction in Neonates

Teaches differential diagnosis and surgical correction of duodenal, jejunoileal, and colonic atresias. Prompt correction prevents bowel necrosis and short-gut syndrome.

Lesson 4 • Necrotising Enterocolitis

Covers staging, medical management, and surgical indications for necrotising enterocolitis. Timely surgical intervention prevents perforation-related sepsis.

Lesson 1 • Damage Control Surgery Principles

Introduces abbreviated laparotomy, temporary closure, and staged definitive repair for unstable patients. Damage control reduces physiologic exhaustion in critically injured children.

Lesson 2 • Primary and Secondary Survey in Children

Adapts ATLS principles to paediatric anatomy and physiology for structured trauma assessment. Systematic survey prevents missed injuries in the polytrauma patient.

Lesson 3 • Hollow Viscus and Pancreatic Trauma

Addresses diagnosis and repair of bowel perforations and pancreatic ductal injuries. Delayed diagnosis of hollow viscus injury significantly increases morbidity.

Lesson 4 • Thoracic Trauma in Children

Teaches management of pneumothorax, haemothorax, and pulmonary contusion in paediatric patients. Chest wall compliance in children masks injury severity on initial exam.

Lesson 1 • Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

Covers diagnosis, metabolic correction, and pyloromyotomy technique. Electrolyte normalisation before surgery prevents postoperative apnea.

Lesson 2 • Intussusception Diagnosis and Treatment

Addresses ultrasound diagnosis, pneumatic reduction, and operative management of failed reduction. Timely reduction prevents bowel ischemia and perforation.

Lesson 3 • Anorectal Malformations

Covers Krickenbeck classification, colostomy creation, and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Accurate anatomy defines the surgical approach and continence prognosis.

Lesson 4 • Hirschsprung Disease Definitive Repair

Teaches pull-through procedures including Swenson, Soave, and Duhamel techniques. Procedure selection depends on transition zone location and surgeon experience.

Lesson 1 • Congenital Lung Malformations

Covers CPAM, pulmonary sequestration, and congenital lobar emphysema diagnosis and resection. Resection timing balances infection risk against anaesthetic risk in infants.

Lesson 2 • Empyema and Pleural Disease

Teaches fibrinolytic therapy, VATS decortication, and chest tube management for paediatric empyema. Early intervention prevents fibrous peel formation and lung trapping.

Lesson 3 • Oesophageal Conditions Beyond Neonates

Covers oesophageal stricture dilation, caustic injury management, and achalasia treatment in children. Endoscopic and surgical options are selected based on stricture severity.

Lesson 4 • Chest Wall Deformities

Teaches Nuss and Ravitch procedures for pectus excavatum and carinatum correction. Patient selection and bar positioning determine cosmetic and cardiopulmonary outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Lymphoma Surgery

Covers rhabdomyosarcoma excision, lymph node biopsy for lymphoma, and re-excision principles. Surgical margins and lymph node status directly determine adjuvant therapy intensity.

Lesson 2 • Wilms Tumour Nephrectomy

Covers preoperative imaging, radical nephrectomy technique, and lymph node sampling for Wilms tumour. Contralateral kidney inspection is mandatory to detect bilateral disease.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Paediatric Surgical Oncology

Establishes biopsy techniques, staging principles, and multidisciplinary team roles in paediatric cancer care. Surgical decisions are embedded within chemotherapy and radiation protocols.

Lesson 4 • Neuroblastoma Resection

Addresses risk stratification, image-defined risk factors, and surgical resection of neuroblastoma. Vascular encasement defines resectability and guides neoadjuvant chemotherapy use.

Lesson 1 • Robotic Surgery in Paediatric Patients

Introduces robotic platform setup, instrument selection, and current evidence for paediatric robotic procedures. Robotic assistance improves precision in confined spaces such as the pelvis.

Lesson 2 • Laparoscopic Fundoplication and Gastrostomy

Teaches Nissen and Thal fundoplication and laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement. Fundoplication wrap tension determines reflux control and dysphagia risk.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Paediatric Laparoscopy

Covers pneumoperitoneum physiology, trocar sizing, and ergonomic setup for small patients. Physiologic effects of CO2 insufflation are amplified in neonates and infants.

Lesson 4 • Laparoscopic Colorectal Procedures

Addresses laparoscopic pull-through for Hirschsprung disease and laparoscopic appendectomy refinement. Intracorporeal suturing skills are essential for anastomotic integrity.