Pediatric Surgery Programs & Services
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The pediatric surgical team at Columbia is trained in the full range of pediatric procedures and has the experience to perform even the most complex surgeries at the highest level of precision and skill. From infants to teens, from the routine to the highly complex, our team is here to help your child. As part of Columbia/NYP's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, we have access to all the latest and least invasive techniques to ensure the best results and fastest recovery possible.
Fetal & Newborn Surgery
Working closely with Maternal-Fetal-Medicine and Pediatric Medicine specialists, our pediatric surgeons are able to provide care for your baby as early as possible. New techniques and advances even allow your baby to be treated in the prenatal stage, before birth.
Highlights of our fetal and newborn surgery services include:
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Spina Bifida/Myelomeningocele Care
We have the only program in the city offering fetal intervention to repair myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida associated with a wide range of complications including early death, paralysis, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. Performing this surgery while the baby is still in the womb has been shown to significantly improve results by decreasing the need for cerebrospinal fluid shunting and improving motor function.
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Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Care
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a condition that results from a hole in the diaphragm muscle, which allows organs from the belly to pass up to the chest and compress the lungs. Our CDH Program teams surgeons with neonatologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and more to begin planning treatment before birth and continue following their care throughout childhood.
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Esophageal Atresia Care
Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a rare birth defect where the esophagus fails to properly connect the mouth to the stomach. Without surgery, babies cannot be fed and are at risk for severe pneumonia. Our REACH Clinic (Researching Esophageal Atresia for Children's Health) offers comprehensive care to children with EA/TEF.
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Biliary Atresia Care
Biliary atresia is a disorder of the bile ducts that can lead to liver failure if not properly treated. While most children with biliary atresia require a liver transplant a year or two after birth, we can also offer the option of the Kasai procedure, which replaces the damaged bile ducts with a portion of the child's own intestines.
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Congenital Lung and Airway Care
Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations (CPAM) is a rare condition in which a fetus develops abnormal growths (lesions) on its lungs. Our surgeons work with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine team to monitor and correct these abnormalities during pregnancy and with the Neonatology team after birth.
Childhood & Adolescent Surgery
Treating kids and teens requires special consideration. Providing excellent clinical service is not enough; complete surgical care means establishing trust, understanding and anticipating their unique questions, and helping them hold on to a sense of control at all times. We are proud to provide complete, comprehensive care for all childhood and adolescent surgical issues, from routine appendectomies and inguinal hernias to rare and complex diseases. Highlights of our childhood and adolescent surgery service include:
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Chest Wall Abnormality Care
Many children and adolescents deal with a common chest issue called pectus excavatum, in which the chest bone (the sternum) is pushed back towards the spine, creating a sunken-chest appearance. A similar condition called pectus carinatum involves the chest bone pushing outward. These conditions can lead to significant stress and anxiety for adolescents, who often become sensitive to looking different from their peers. Our surgeons have extensive experience dealing with these and more complex abnormalities and frequently work alongside orthopedic surgeons and other specialists to ensure the best results.
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Adolescent Weight Loss Care
As obesity rates rise in teens and adolescents, research is showing a greater role for early surgical intervention with kids who fall into the category of severely obese (those with body mass indexes (BMIs) over 40). Our Center for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery is one of the few such programs in the country specializing in this important area. Our team is amongst the most experienced in the world, providing minimally invasive bariatric (weight loss) surgery, and our procedures result in significant long-term weight loss.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care
Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic conditions that can affect more than just the digestive system. Our surgeons are integrated into a larger team of IBD specialists that include pediatric gastroenterologists, nutritionists, immunologists, social workers and more. We specialize in minimally invasive, laparoscopic colon surgeries and are at the forefront of research into new and more advanced treatments.
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Pediatric Thyroid Program
For children and their families dealing with thyroid disease ranging from abnormal hormone levels to nodules and cancer, our surgeons work with a team of endocrinologists and other specialists to create comprehensive treatment plans specifically attuned to each family's needs. The pediatric program at the Columbia Thyroid Center is the premier program of its kind in New York and one of the top pediatric thyroid programs nationwide.
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Pediatric Bowel Management Program
Our specialists will work with you to develop an effective, personalized treatment plan for your child based on the underlying causes of their child's colorectal and bowel issues.
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Trauma & Critical Care
You can't plan for emergency surgeries, but you can take comfort that if your loved one is brought to us for a traumatic or critical surgical situation, they are in the hands of one of the only designated Level 1 Regional Pediatric Trauma Centers in Manhattan, the highest level of Pediatric Trauma designation given by the NY State Department of Health. For infants and children facing critical heart-lung issues, our Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Life Support program has been designated a center of excellence by ELSO, the leading Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.
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Vascular Anomalies Program
Vascular anomalies are abnormally formed arteries and veins that can cause lesions or birthmarks on your child's skin. Some vascular anomalies (like hemangiomas) are benign tumors that can grow, but they do not spread throughout the body like cancerous tumors. As part of Columbia's multi-specialist Vascular Anomalies Group, our surgeons are experts at removing disfiguring lesions and reconstructing the affected area.
Learn more about pediatric vascular anomalies »
Our Partner Programs
Some surgical issues that affect children are handled by other divisions within our Medical Center. Learn more about the important work our peers do to help children and families in need.
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Congenital Heart Center
Surgeons at our Congenital Heart Center work side-by-side with pediatric cardiologists, imaging specialists, and other specialists to deliver advanced care with results that far exceed national benchmarks. Our Center pioneered many of the now-standard approaches for congenital heart care, and it continues to be at the forefront of new diagnostic and treatment options, including leading the way in congenital heart valve procedures. No matter the complexity or severity of your child's heart condition, our team can help.
Peds Congenital Heart Center -
Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate Care
Cleft lip and cleft palate are common conditions, but their treatment can be extremely complex. Our team of craniofacial surgeons meets the high standards of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Our Craniofacial Center teams connects your child with world-leading reconstructive surgeons and a full range of support services and therapies.
Craniofacial Center -
Surgical Cancer and Transplant Care
When it comes to surgical approaches to cancer care, treatment often comes in the form of an organ transplant—removing the diseased organ and replacing it with a healthy donor one. Our world-renowned Liver Transplant program and Kidney Transplant program lead the region in pediatric transplant care. Our team is also highly experienced in using minimally invasive procedures to safely biopsy chest and abdominal tumors for proper diagnosis and staging.
Liver Transplant programKidney Transplant program
Programs For Students & Healthcare Professionals
Being part of an Ivy League academic center means our doctors not only practice their craft, they teach it to the next generation of leaders in the field of pediatric surgery - pushing them to always be aware of the latest findings and best practices.