Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child has undescended testis?
Unfortunately, there are no specific diagnostic tests for undescended testes, such as ultrasound. However, one or both testicles may be missing for a baby with an undescended testis. So, if both are undescended, the scrotum will appear unusually small or flat. However, if one of the two testes is missing, the scrotum seems lopsided. Hence, a simple diagnostic exam by an expert pediatrician can confirm if your child suffers from the condition. On the other hand, the only way is surgery to ensure that the child is suffering from the undescended testis.
How to prepare for the surgery?
The surgery proceeds under general anesthesia; therefore, there are some important rules to follow regarding the patient’s food intake, such as the following.
- If the child is older than 12 months, you must not give any solid food or non-clear liquids after midnight of the night before the surgery. For example, avoid giving such milk, formula, pulp juice, candies, etc.
- For infants under 12 months, formula-fed babies can be fed up to 6 hours before the scheduled surgery, and breastfed babies can be nursed up to 4 hours before the surgery.
- You can give only clear liquids such as water and juices up to 2 hours before the surgery. Please ensure that you only provide the fluids you can see through. For example, apple juice or white grape juice.
- During the 2 hours before the surgery, you must not give your child anything to eat or drink.
Will my baby be fertile and able to have children of his own?
Men with one undescended testicle can have children. However, fertility is just half of the normal. However, corrective surgery at a young age can restore their fertility to the same as if they never had the issue of undescended testicles. Furthermore, according to the research, if the surgery is performed at less than 2 years old, there is an ample chance of recovery for testicular growth. Hence, an early orchiopexy improves the subsequent testicular catch-up growth, and your baby will be fertile and healthy enough to have his children.
Are there any risksof the orchiopexy surgery?
It is a quick surgery of nearly 45 minutes. However, the possible complications or risks are just as much as in surgery. For example, swelling, bleeding and bruising at the site of the incision. Moreover, the wound may also get infected. The testis may move back up into the groin.
How should I take care of the incision?
Inguinal hernia surgery results in an incision on the inguinal skin crease. You can take care of the incision by following;
- Steri strips may be applied to the wound. These steri strips fall off the wound on their own.
- The Tegaderm or a gauze dressing may be used to cover the wound. If your surgeon has used the Tegaderm transparent plastic dressing, you must carefully remove it after 5 days of the surgery.
Moreover, you must expect swelling or bruising for 3-5 days after the surgery.
How limited my child’s physical activity should be?
The extent of physical activity and the time for him to resume his physical activity significantly depends upon your child’s age when the surgery is performed.
- Regular activity is allowed for babies aged from 0 to 8 months.
- Be wary of toddler accidents if your baby is 8 months to 2.5 years old.
- For a child who got his surgery at the age between 2.5 years to 12 years, quiet, supervised play is recommended for 24-48 hours. However, please abstain from vigorous activity for at least 4 weeks after the surgery.
When should the pediatric inguinal hernia be prepared?
Timely treatment of the inguinal hernia is recommended, irrespective of the child’s, to avoid possible complications. Inguinal hernia repair surgery is a standard and safe procedure that takes as long as one hour. So, if you get the best pediatric surgeon on board, you need not worry.
Can an inguinal hernia reappear after the surgery?
It is infrequent for an inguinal hernia to reappear after proper treatment from a competitive pediatric surgeon. According to the stats, only 1%- 3% of the patients suffer from hernia recurrence. However, it significantly depends on the type of hernias and other factors. On the contrary, the incisional hernias may come back.
What are the symptoms of an umbilical hernia?
Usually, hernias are diagnosed during physical examination. So, if your baby shows signs of nausea, vomiting, and extreme pain, it may be due to a hernia. The pediatrician looks for a bulge or swelling on the umbilicus or belly button area. It may be even more noticeable when the baby cries and minimal when it relaxes. Furthermore, the following symptoms for umbilical hernia are confirmed to ensure that the hernia is incarcerated.
- Abdominal pain and tenderness
- Constipation
- Fever
- Full, round abdomen
- Red, purple, dark or discoloured bulge
- Vomiting
An incarcerated hernia strangulates the intestine that becomes necrotic if not treated in time. Furthermore, blood tests may also be performed to rule out the chances of infection due to intestine strangulation.
What are the risks of umbilical hernia surgery?
Hernia surgery is a very safe procedure that is performed all over the world. However, no surgery comes without any risks. The mere risks of umbilical hernia surgery include the infection of the wound or a hematoma that refers to the blood accumulation on the hernia site. However, these risks are common to all surgeries and are not specific to umbilical hernia surgery.
Can I leave it untreated?
Surgery is the last resort to treat umbilical hernia for infants because, in many cases, it resolves independently with time. However, if it does not improve, you must consult your pediatrician. Furthermore, if the baby shows signs of discomfort or pain on the herniated site, it indicates immediate treatment. On the contrary, if the hernia is left untreated, it goes to the organs near the area prone to damage which may lead to further complications such as strangulation of the intestines and necrosis. So, if your baby’s hernia is not settling and worsening, you must consult the best pediatrician and schedule the treatment.
How long is the recovery time for umbilical hernia surgery?
After the umbilical hernia treatment, there may be pain, discomfort and swelling around the navel area. However, your child will recover within a few days. In some cases, the child may take up to 3 to 4 weeks. Recovery will be as long as bad as the hernia is. During recovery, the kids must be careful of too hard, brisk movements. Furthermore, you will get a follow-up appointment about 3 to 4 weeks post-surgery, when your pediatric surgeon will ensure that everything is fine and there is no postoperative complication.
Can an umbilical hernia come back after surgery?
Umbilical hernia surgery is a surgical treatment with very high success rates. However, in some rare cases, it can appear again.
When should I call my child’s pediatrician after the umbilical hernia surgery?
After the surgery, minor swelling or discolouration is normal. However, if you observe any of the following symptoms, you must call your child’s pediatrician.
- Redness
- Inability to urinate
- Excessive swelling
- Bleeding
- Fever
- Excruciating pain
How long does the baby circumcision take to heal?
It can take some weeks to get healed completely. The bruising on the scrotum and at the base of the penis is normal, and it should disappear in some days. There may be green/yellow scabbing that indicates healing. Using Vaseline/ petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment on the penis around the incision helps with the sensitivity.
When is the best time to get my boy circumcised?
Circumcision is performed in nurseries. Pediatric urologists and pediatricians also provide this service. It is recommended that you get your baby circumcised as soon as possible because, in the later stages, the risk of complications worsens. Typically, the child is circumcised before he reaches 12lbs. Approximately it is about two months of age for a full-term infant. If your child is past this stage, it is better to wait until he is six months old. Hence, circumcision surgery can be performed under general anesthesia in an operating room.
Is the circumcision surgery performed under anesthesia?
During the circumcision surgery, the baby receives a numbing injection at the tip of the penis. It is more like getting a numbing injection in the root of a tooth for a procedure. This injection relieves the pain for about two hours. You can also try giving the baby Tylenol to settle the pain.
How should I care for the baby after the circumcision surgery?
Here are a few tips you should keep in mind for postoperative care of your child.
- Keep the area clean to minimise the risk of infection.
- A small amount of blood is expected after the circumcision surgery. However, watch out for excessive bleeding.
- Keep track of how often your baby urinates.
- If your son is irritable or crying excessively, you should see your pediatrician immediately.
- Swelling of the penis in the first few days is quite normal. However, if you observe that it is not getting better or worsening with time, it may be an infection.
- Watch out for any visible symptoms of infection, such as swelling, pus, and fever.
When can I start bathing my child after the surgery?
Avoid bathing your child for at least two days after the surgery. It is recommended that you sponge bathe your child instead of bathing. A warm bath cleaning the penis gently with soap and water is good. Carefully clean the area near the scrotum and anus. If there are any stool residues on the incision, gently pour warm and soapy water and tap it to dry.
When should I call the doctor after the surgery?
Just like any other surgery, there may be some complications in circumcision surgery. However, they are not that frequent. So, if you see any of the following signs, you must call the doctor.
- Excessive bleeding
- Extreme redness
- Swelling of penis or scrotum
- Fever: more than 101℉ oral, under arm or forehead temperature, and more than 102℉ rectal temperature.
What causes duplication cysts formation?
The exact cause of duplication cyst formation is yet unknown. However, this condition is congenital, which means cysts are formed before the baby is born. It is a rare genetic anatomical abnormality that affects 1 in 4500 babies. Importantly, no other health issues are related to the duplication cysts, due to which these are primarily asymptomatic.
How long it takes to recover from the surgery?
It depends upon the treatment approach that your doctor chooses. However, the patient recovers from the surgery within a few weeks.
Can duplication cysts disappear?
Surgery is the most recommended approach to deal with duplication cysts in symptomatic cases. However, some cysts may require extensive surgery to repair the damage that involves the other organs. However, it has also been reported that some cysts go away and do not require surgery.
Can a duplication cyst be cancerous?
Duplication cysts are mostly asymptomatic and are primarily diagnosed incidentally. However, duplication cysts rarely turn out to be cancerous.
Can duplication cysts cause any significant issues?
Duplication cysts are rare abnormalities usually diagnosed within the first some years of life. However, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis may result in complications such as bleeding, perforation, and infection.
Is surgery necessary for duplication cysts?
Surgical resection of the alimentary canal duplication cyst is the primary treatment in most cases. Surgery is recommended for all symptomatic patients. Depending upon the cysts, some complex cases may also require extensive surgeries. It may be an open laparotomy, thoracotomy, or minimally invasive laparoscopic or thoracoscopic surgery. However, excellent outcomes have been reported after the surgery.
What are mesenteric and omental cysts, and when can they be identified?
Mesenteric and omental cysts are uncommon abdominal and mesenteric tumors in children. Instead, they are identified primarily before birth during prenatal ultrasound.
At what age do children get affected by mesenteric and omental cysts?
Mesenteric and omental cysts in peds affect newborns to 18 years old children. However, most cases appear in children under the age of 15.
How can the pediatric surgeon diagnose the condition in my child?
The best pediatric surgeon may diagnose the condition if your child suffers from severe abdominal pain or appendicitis.
What could be the best treatment plan?
Laparoscopic surgery by a pediatric surgeon is the best way to locate and remove mesenteric and omental cysts in peds.
Is mesenteric and omental cysts treatment for peds available in Pakistan?
Yes! ALSA Pakistan offers the best mesenteric and omental cysts treatment for peds in Pakistan at highly reasonable prices.
Is inflammatory bowel disease common in children?
Inflammatory bowel disease is a rare digestive tract disorder in children. Sometimes it may show symptoms, or there is no sign of complication.
What could be the alarming symptoms of the disease?
Sudden reduction of weight and appetite, fatigue, fever, stool in blood, diarrhea or nausea, abdominal pain and weakness are common symptoms.
What could be the exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease?
There is not one specific cause. However, many factors can be responsible, like family history, environmental factors, reactive immunity and imbalance of bacteria in the body.
Is the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease at ALSA costly?
The best pediatric surgeon Dr Mohsin at ALSA, is highly expert in laparoscopic surgery for the disease. You can get this surgical treatment at a highly cost-effective price at ALSA.
Does it take a long recovery process?
No, ALSA Pakistan facilitates a quick recovery process, and your child may soon enjoy normal activities after the surgery.
What is pediatric anal stenosis?
Pediatric anal stenosis is a condition in which a tubular organ or blood artery becomes too narrow to function in its target area. It is common in children.
What are the symptoms of pediatric anal stenosis?
The symptoms include constipation, rectal bleeding, pain and discomfort during bowel movements.
How would I know my baby is suffering from pediatric anal stenosis?
Because the anus looks fine at birth, no one will ever know about it. But severe constipation and difficulties defecating in straining infants lead to the diagnosis.
Which preventive strategies are included in pediatric anal stenosis treatment?
Pediatric anal stenosis treatment includes fiber supplements, stool softeners, and surgical widen the sphincter muscles.
Why should I go to the pediatric surgeon at ALSA?
At ALSA, the pediatric surgeon carries out minimally invasive pediatric anal stenosis treatment in Pakistan with positive outcomes. Moreover, the treatment is carried out in a hygienic environment with the latest technology at quite affordable prices.
What is Hirschsprung disease?
In this condition, the intestines become jammed with stool, preventing your infant from having regular bowel movements.
Is Hirschsprung disease completely a birth disorder?
Yes! You can identify the condition in your baby during the first 2 months of birth. However, 80% of babies show the symptoms in the first 6 weeks after birth.
Does the disease show any symptoms?
Yes, the primary symptom is constipation. However, it accompanies some others, like abdominal discomforts, stomach disorders, fever, fatigue, malnutrition, and delayed growth.
What is the pull-through procedure?
It is the procedure of Hirschsprung disease treatment. During the procedure, the diseased part of the intestines causing bowel obstruction is removed, and the healthy part of the intestine is pulled towards the anus.
Why choose ALSA for Hirschsprung disease treatment in Pakistan?
The pediatric surgeon Dr Mohsin at ALSA carries the laparoscopic surgical procedure with great care and advanced equipment, ensuring good quality of life for your child at a low price.
What are pediatric anorectal malformations?
These are the disorders of the anus and rectum in babies, usually birth abnormalities.
What are the common indications of these anorectal malformations?
Your child may feel distressed, unable to control stool, diarrhea, anus incontinence or leakage in-between bowel movements, inflammation, bleeding, and burning pain during and after defecation.
What is the best treatment for pediatric anorectal disorders?
Infants born with anorectal malformations typically necessitate surgery. However, the need for anorectal malformation treatment depends on the disorder’s kind and severity.
What is Laparoscopic-Assisted Anorectoplasty or LAARP?
Laparoscopically-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) is the latest method to visualise better the rectal fistula and surrounding structures with minimal abdominal and perineal wounds.
What is the difference between recto-urethral fistula and recto-vestibular fistula?
Both rectal fistulas are common anorectal disorders in babies. However, the recto-urethral fistula is the male anorectal abnormality, and the recto-vestibular or recto-vaginal fistula is the female anorectal abnormality.
What is the condition of rectal polyps?
In rectal polyps, a small bump or an outgrowth is formed in the rectum’s lining.
Are the rectal polyps cancerous?
Polyps are usually non-cancerous, but as they are abnormal cell growth, they could be cancerous and spread in other parts of the digestive tract.
Is rectal polyp treatment in Pakistan expensive?
To remove polyps in the rectum and colon, ALSA Pakistan provides cost-effective rectal polyps treatment in Pakistan with the greatest possible care.
Who is a pediatric surgeon, and why do you need to visit?
A pediatric surgeon is a child specialist who carries out pediatric surgeries carefully, ensuring you the best positive results.
Is intestinal atresia curable?
Intestinal atresia is a rare birth defect in which the intestine is obstructed for bowel movement from more than one point. Yes, it is completely curable.
What is the exact cause of the disease?
The exact of the disease is unknown. However, it is still believed that it may be due to improper blood flow to the baby during pregnancy.
What happens if it is not treated timely?
You must get intestinal atresia treatment for your baby at the right time. Otherwise, the condition may get worse or lead to severe malnutrition.
What is the intestinal atresia treatment strategy?
The ultimate treatment for intestinal atresia is laparoscopic surgery which is highly recommended after 2-3 days of childbirth.
How is the surgery carried out at ALSA Pakistan?
Surgery could be open or laparoscopic, depending on the severity of the condition. However, during the surgery, Dr Mohsin, a pediatric surgeon at ALSA, removes the blockage from the intestines and connects the healthy parts. The baby is given painkillers and antibiotics via an IV tube.
How common is the Meckel diverticulum?
It is a common congenital disability, affecting almost 2-3% of the infant population. It is the formation of swelling or outpouching in the lower portion of the small intestine.
How would I know my baby is suffering from Meckel diverticulum?
The symptoms usually appear during the first year of the child’s birth. These include gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and discomfort, bowel obstruction and swelling around the navel.
What can be the cause of the condition?
During pregnancy, the vitelline duct connected from the mother to the fetus is not completely immersed and leads to the formation of outgrowth that develops the Meckel diverticulum.
Is it possible to have Meckel diverticulum treatment in Pakistan?
Yes, ALSA offers the best and pocket-friendly Meckel diverticulum treatment in Pakistan so that your child lives tee best life.
What is malrotation in infants?
It is a developmental abnormality in which the baby’s intestine does not rotate appropriately within the belly.
Is it a common condition?
No, it is a very rare condition. Only 1 out of 600 babies were found to have malrotation disorder.
What are the symptoms of malrotation?
The symptoms include swollen abdomen, less appetite, less urination, pale colouration, and irregular bowel movements with vomiting.
Can I have a malrotation treatment in Pakistan for my baby?
Yes, ALSA offers the best and most guaranteed malrotation treatment in Pakistan. The best pediatric surgeon at ALSA carefully diagnoses the severity of the condition and carries out the treatment.
Is malrotation treatment in Pakistan successful?
After choosing ALSA for malrotation treatment in Pakistan, there is more chance of normal growth and development of the baby without any post-operative complications. Our pediatric surgeon strives for a healthy life for your baby.
What is Wilms tumor or nephroblastoma?
Wilms tumor or nephroblastoma is a cancer of the kidneys in children at an early age.
What are the survival chances for children suffering from Wilms tumor?
Children have 80-90% chances of survival and recovery.
What are the common symptoms of the condition?
The early symptoms include pain and swelling in the abdomen, blood in urine, constipation, fever and high blood pressure, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and vomiting.
How can a pediatric surgeon diagnose that my baby has Wilms tumor?
The pediatric surgeon at ALSA keenly diagnoses the condition through tests like ultrasound, MRI, bone scans, CT/CAT scans, X-rays and some blood tests.
What is the best strategy for Wilms tumor treatment in Pakistan?
ALSA carries out the best treatment plan for Wilms tumor treatment in Pakistan, comprising surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, the treatment strategy depends on the tumor stage, the child’s condition and the formation of cancerous cells.
Is the Wilms tumor treatment expensive?
ALSA Pakistan offers the most affordable Wilms tumor treatment so that every person can afford it with the best possible care.
What is the leading cause of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in babies?
It is a rare birth defect in babies and is mainly due to improper development of the ureter and renal pelvis during pregnancy.
Is it purely a child health issue?
No, it also occurs in adults and older children. Scar tissue or previous ureteropelvic junction obstruction or infection could be their reason.
What are alarming signs of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in babies?
During the gestation period, enlarged kidney size can be noticeable. However, other symptoms include a lump or pain in the abdomen, blood in urine, vomiting, kidney infection, UTI, and poor baby growth.
Is the condition treatable?
Yes, ALSA Pakistan offers the best ureteropelvic junction obstruction treatment in Pakistan at a highly affordable price.
Which is the right surgery option for the treatment?
The surgery could be carried out either openly or laparoscopically. It depends on the severity of the illness and the child’s condition.