My daughter needs to undergo a surgical procedure, and the doctor has recommended “minimally invasive” surgery. What type of surgery is this? Will it be as safe — and effective — as standard surgery? – Julianne Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more and more common in hospitals. These procedures are …
admin 
What Is Elective Surgery?
I’ve heard the term “elective surgery,” but I’m not sure what it means. Is it just a procedure that you choose to get, like a nose job? – Heather The name “elective” might imply that this type of surgery is optional, but that’s not always the case. An elective procedure is …
What Is Informed Consent?
My son is having surgery in a few weeks. The nurses have given us pamphlets and educational materials to learn more about it, in preparation for something called “informed consent.” What does this mean? – Ned Informed consent is a legal term. It means that you are fully aware of …
When Your Child Needs a Heart Transplant
If your child needs a heart transplant, you’re probably feeling lots of emotions all at once — including anger, sadness, worry, and frustration. These feelings can become overwhelming, especially when your child is waiting for a new heart. Fortunately, many kids who undergo heart transplants go on to live normal, …
When Your Child Needs a Liver Transplant
Being told that your child needs a liver transplant may leave you feeling scared, angry, or confused. You might not fully understand why your child needs a new organ or where the new organ will come from. Just thinking about the months ahead may fill you with dread and worry. …
When Your Child’s in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
It can be stressful whenever kids are in the hospital — and even more so when they’re admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). But a basic understanding of the people and equipment in the PICU can help you feel better prepared to help your child recover. What’s the …
Circumcision
Whether you’re expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed your new little guy into the world, you have an important decision to make before you take your son home: whether to circumcise him. Was it hard to decide if you should circumcise your son? YesNo VoteView Results For some …
Cleft Lip and Palate
An orofacial (or-oh-FAY-shul) cleft is when a baby is born with an opening in the lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate). Cleft lip and cleft palate happen in about 1 or 2 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States each year, making it one of the most …
Cochlear Implants
Sometimes called a “bionic ear,” the cochlear implant offers the hope of gaining or restoring the ability to sense sound for some people with significant hearing loss. What Is a Cochlear Implant? A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that helps overcome problems in the cochlea (KO-klee-uh). The cochlea are snail-shaped, …
Enlarged Adenoids
Enlarged Adenoids Adenoids are a patch of tissue that sits at the very back of the nasal passage. Like tonsils, adenoids help keep the body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you breathe in or swallow. Although you can see the tonsils at the back of the throat, adenoids aren’t …