Archive for surgery
Meghan’s journey with UESL: Finding treatment for a rare form of liver cancer
In the spring of 2017, Meghan Tompkins and her parents, Danni and Michael, arrived at the Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center. They were there for an appointment after Meghan’s doctors identified a suspicious spot on her liver. Meghan, then 13, only knew that she was having gastrointestinal symptoms — no one had uttered ... Read More about Meghan’s journey with UESL: Finding treatment for a rare form of liver cancer
Game-changing surgical procedure results in zero-percent TEF re-recurrence rate
A tracheaesophageal fistula (TEF) is a congenital defect in which an abnormal connection forms between a child’s esophagus and trachea. It often occurs with esophageal atresia. Even after surgical repair, TEFs recur in about 10 to 15 percent of infants and children. They rarely close spontaneously and typically require surgical or endoscopic intervention. Key takeaways: ... Read More about Game-changing surgical procedure results in zero-percent TEF re-recurrence rate
Laparoscopic approach to cloacal malformation repair found safe in eligible patients
A minimally invasive surgical approach called laparoscopic rectal mobilization and urogenital separation appears to be a safe alternative to open surgery in eligible patients with cloacal malformations. That’s the conclusion of a recent study by the team in the Colorectal and Pelvic Malformation Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. A minimally invasive approach to urogenital separation ... Read More about Laparoscopic approach to cloacal malformation repair found safe in eligible patients
Minimally invasive surgery safe and effective for craniosynostosis
Traditional treatment for children with craniosynostosis — a condition in which the bones of the skull grow together too early in the child’s development — usually involves an extensive open craniectomy surgery with a incision to release the fused bones. But a study from physicians in the Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Boston Children’s Hospital ... Read More about Minimally invasive surgery safe and effective for craniosynostosis
Reaching his goals: Surgery helps CP soccer star shine
Cooper Veloudis loves soccer. At 12, he’s an avid player on CP Soccer’s New York team. This U.S. Soccer member organization provides opportunities for players with cerebral palsy (CP), stroke, or traumatic brain injuries and feeds into the U.S. Paralympics. He’s even kept up with daily practices during the pandemic via Zoom, rarely missing a ... Read More about Reaching his goals: Surgery helps CP soccer star shine
‘The best decision we ever made’: Bridging the gap for Arya’s esophageal atresia
When Teja and Naveen learned last year that their daughter, Arya, would be born with long-gap esophageal atresia (EA), they did what many parents do: They took to the internet in search of more information. There, they learned that long-gap EA is a rare but serious condition in which a baby’s esophagus develops in two ... Read More about ‘The best decision we ever made’: Bridging the gap for Arya’s esophageal atresia
Beating the odds and neuromuscular scoliosis: Colin’s story
Colin Newton has a way of surprising people. Born with a rare neuromuscular disorder, he spent the first three months of his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) struggling to breathe. Two and a half years later, and eight months after he underwent spinal surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis, Colin went skiing for the first ... Read More about Beating the odds and neuromuscular scoliosis: Colin’s story
Treating vascular rings: Sisters travel more than 3,000 miles for care
Nicky Dickerhoff is no stranger to caring for children: Not only is she a neonatal nurse practitioner, but she and her husband, Jake, have eight kids themselves. “We’re experienced parents,” she laughs. So when their daughter Harper briefly stopped breathing at just 3 weeks old, Nicky was skeptical at the initial diagnosis of reflux. Repeated ... Read More about Treating vascular rings: Sisters travel more than 3,000 miles for care
Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents
Any time a child needs surgery, safety is a natural concern. With COVID-19, many parents are feeling more concerned than ever. “As a parent myself, one of the scariest things about this pandemic is that you’re often having to make decisions based on incomplete information, says Dr. Prathima Nandivada, an attending surgeon in the Department ... Read More about Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents
Brachial plexus birth injury: Harper’s right arm
When Harper Jane Stalker was born with a limp, unmoving right arm in 2016, her parents had never heard of brachial plexus birth injury. Their situation was not unusual. Although this type of nerve injury is relatively common, most parents haven’t heard the term and don’t know what it is. “In the beginning, we were ... Read More about Brachial plexus birth injury: Harper’s right arm