See What ’ s New at McLane Children ’ s Scott & White !
Surgical Innovations Benefit Children
he pediatric experts at McLane Children ’ s Hospital Scott & White work hard to make their patients ’ experiences as easy as possible and to ensure parents ’ peace of mind . By using innovative , minimally invasive procedures to treat both common and rare medical conditions , pediatric surgeons here are helping more patients — from newborns to teenagers — recover faster and have less pain .
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Robotic Surgery for Pediatric Urology Patients Jeffrey A . Waxman , MD , chief of the Section of Pediatric Urology at McLane Children ’ s Hospital , and assistant professor of surgery and pediatrics at the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine , is using the da Vinci Si HD Robotic System to treat children born with abnormalities commonly seen in pediatric urologists ’ practices . With the help of the unique system during surgery , Dr . Waxman is able to reverse conditions that prevent proper urine drainage from the kidneys to the bladder , and others that allow urine backflow ( reflux ) from the bladder to the kidneys , among other things . Dr . Waxman says that the technology ’ s benefits include greater surgical precision , fewer incisions , and less pain for patients . Patients usually need an overnight hospital stay , but some are able to go home the same day the procedure is performed .
“ It ’ s important for us to do delicate reconstructive work and offer fast recovery times for our patients ,” Dr . Waxman says . He has helped more than a half dozen pediatric patients so far by using the robotic technology . “ You realize how important a pediatric environment is when you see how it helps a child recover ,” he says . “ A children ’ s hospital makes a world of difference because the whole atmosphere — from the nurses , to the anesthesiologists , to the surgeons — is focused much more on children ’ s needs .”
Minimally Invasive Procedures for General Pediatric Surgery Patients Babies as young as a few days old are benefitting from new surgical techniques for conditions that once required larger incisions , longer recovery , and caused more pain for young patients . Pediatric surgeons Kelly D . Mattix , MD , and Lena Perger , MD , are using minimally invasive surgical techniques for removal of appendix , gallbladder , spleen , parts of intestines , and tumors in the abdomen and chest . The techniques are also used for partial lung removal , biopsies , correction of chest wall deformities and anti-reflux surgery , to name just a few . In the past , larger incisions were used during traditional surgery to correct these problems ( and are still used by other hospitals today ). Now , however , a patient at McLane Children ’ s Hospital can receive state-ofthe-art treatment , in the skilled hands of pediatric experts who care only for children . “ Scarring and scoliosis could sometimes result when children had open-chest surgery ,” says Dr . Mattix . “ But as technology and instruments used in surgery have advanced , we can make the experience better for patients . Having fellowship-trained pediatric surgeons helps , too .” Dr . Perger is now using single-incision surgery for gallbladder removal , appendectomies , and intestinal resections for patients with inflammatory bowel disease . “ It ’ s a sign of what the future holds , and it ’ s exciting to think about other ways patients can benefit !” says Dr . Mattix . n
Dr . Lena Perger ( standing ), Dr . Jeffrey Waxman , and Dr . Kelly Mattix enjoy seeing patients like Jonathan Quintanilla ( left ) and Alana and Assyria Bailey recover faster with minimally invasive and robotic procedures .
Learn more in a Q & A about how children benefit from less-invasive surgeries , and how Dr . Waxman helped one special little girl .
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