General Pediatric Surgery Clinic

Conditions We Treat

APPENDICITIS

• Appendectomy

CECOSTOMY TUBES

CONSTIPATION

• Relieving Your Child’s Constipation
• Healthy Bowel Movements
• Constipation Information
• Eating More Fibre

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

• GASTROESPOHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE – Fundoplication  

GASTROSTOMY TUBES

• When Your Child Has a Gastronomy Tube 
• Caring For My Child’s Gastronomy Tube

HERNIAS

• What is a Hernia?
• Caring For Your Child After a Hernia Repair
• HIRSCHSPRUNG’S DISEASE
• INGROWN TOENAILS
• MAKING NORMAL SALINE AT HOME

PECTUS CARINATUM

• Pectus Carinatum 

PECTUS EXCAVATUM

• Pectus Excavatum Overview
• Pectus Excavatum Information Package
• Exercise Instructions
• Discharge Instructions

PILONIDAL SINUS

• Pilionidal Sinus Surgery
• PYLORIC STENOSIS – Pyloromyotomy
• RECTAL IRRIGATIONS

SPLENECTOMY

• What is a Splenoctomy? 
• Living Without A Spleen

UNDESCENDED TESTES – Orchidopexy

• Your child’s Health Card. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care requires us to validate your health card at every clinic visit.
• A list of symptoms, new or recurring.
• A pain record.
• A list of medications and any prescription renewals required.
• Dates of upcoming tests.
• Any forms you need reviewed or signed.
• Any notes or questions that you may have.
• You may want to bring a snack/drink or something to do while waiting.

When you arrive to the clinic please check in with the Business clerk at the reception desk. The business clerk will let the team know that you have arrived.

Note: If your child is ill with any antibiotic resistant organism, MRSA, a communicable disease (such as Chicken Pox), or a respiratory infection, please notify reception staff prior to your scheduled appointment.

Appendicitis-Appendectomy

The appendix is a small, hollow sack that hangs down from the large intestine (bowel). It has no known purpose in the body. If the appendix becomes blocked, it can become inflamed or infected. This is called appendicitis. If the appendicitis is severe, the appendix may burst open (rupture) and cause a serious infection in the abdomen. If your child has appendicitis, he or she may need to have surgery to remove the appendix, called an appendectomy.

Constipation

Constipation means your child has fewer bowel movements (stools, pooh) than usual. The bowel movements may be hard and dry, and difficult or painful to pass. As the stool builds up, your child may get stomach cramps and pain. Constipation is a common problem that can be treated.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Fundoplication

Gatroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an abnormal flow of acid from the stomach up into the esophagus which can be painful and can sometimes cause pneumonia. GERD can be treated with medications to help suppress or neutralize the stomach acid. To also help prevent reflux from occurring, a fundoplication  is the surgery sometimes needed to tighten the area where the esophagus and stomach join.

Gastrostomy Tubes

A gastrostomy is a small opening through the skin and abdomen into the stomach. A gastrostomy tube or G-tube is a thin, flexible tube that is put through this opening. The tube is used to put liquids directly into your child’s stomach. Gastrostomy Tube uses include liquid food for nutrition, water for hydration, and medications. There are different kinds of G-tubes. Your child’s doctor will chose the tube that best meets your child’s needs.

Hernias

A hernia is a weakness in the muscles of the abdomen. Part of the bowel may push through the weak area, causing a lump under the skin. They can cause pain and discomfort, and may get bigger if they are not repaired. Sometimes the bowel (intestines) can become trapped in a hernia. This may cause the bowel to become blocked and urgent surgery is needed to fix this. Some common places hernias can occur are:

• the groin, called an inguinal hernia- the most common type
• the navel, called an umbilical hernia
• At the incision of a previous operation, called an incisional hernia
• the upper thigh, called a femoral hernia- rare

Hirschsprung’s Disease

Hirschprung’s Disease is a disease of the large intestine. It can sometimes affect the small intestines as well. It occurs when some of the ganglion cells in the large intestine are missing. Without these cells, the muscles of the intestine cannot push stool towards the anus, where it should leave the body. As a result, the large intestine fills up with stool and becomes partially or completely blocked (obstructed). The intestine becomes enlarged and may get infected (enterocolitis).

Ingrown Toenails

An ingrown toenail occurs when the corner or side of the nail grows down into the skin and the flesh of your toe. This causes pain, redness, and swelling. Rough or red skin may grow over the area. An ingrown toenail can also become infected. Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem. Any toenail can become ingrown, but it happens most often to the big toes.

Pilonidal Sinus

Is an abnormal cavity or collection of hairs under the skin that usually occurs over the tailbone. It looks like a small pit or dimple on the surface of the skin; may be caused by ingrown hairs, or from pressure or friction on the skin; and can lead to infection: pain, swelling, redness or the surrounding skin, drainage such as pus or blood.

Pyloric Stenosis- Pyloromyotomy

Pyloric stenosis is narrowing of the lower part of the stomach, called the pylorus. The pylorus connects the stomach with the small bowel (intestine). The pylorus becomes narrow when the muscles around it get thicker. Eventually the pylorus becomes blocked and good cannot leave the stomach. This causes vomiting after feeds. It is usually seen in babies between 2 and 6 weeks of age, but can occur as late as 4 months of age.

Splenectomy

Splenectomy is a surgery to remove the spleen. The spleen is an organ of the body. It is found in the upper left corner of the abdomen, under the ribs. The spleen protects the body from infection and acts as a filter for the blood. A splenectomy is usually done if the spleen is bleeding, injured, or affected by disease.

Undescended Testes-Orchidopexy

Undescended testes is a condition in which the testicle is not in the normal position in the scrotum. During normal development the testicles move from the lower abdomen down into the scrotum. This usually happens before birth, or before age one. The testicles need to be in the scrotum for them to function properly. If one or both of the testicles fail to move down (descend), surgery is done to move the testicle(s) into the scrotum. The surgical procedure is called orchidopexy.

Referrals can be faxed directly to the clinic. Please use our Referral Form.

Urgent Referrals: The clinics are not for emergencies. For urgent referrals please mark as “urgent” on the fax and call the clinic. If your child needs to be seen on an urgent basis, please contact your family doctor or go to your local emergency department.