Pediatric Surgery with James Buck, MD
How do recovery times vary among children?
The thought of surgery can be intimidating and stressful for children. However, according to James Buck, MD, Division Head of Pediatric Surgery at GBMC, the full spectrum of pediatric surgical care is delivered in a way that not only obtains the best outcome, but also alleviates anxiety and stress.
“The challenge with pediatric patients is determining what the condition is, what tests need to be performed and the best treatment option,” says Dr. Buck. “If you approach a child in a threatening manner, you will not be able to gather the information you need to best treat them. It is important to talk to a child in an age-appropriate manner. The child must be a part of the discussion and it is important not to hide things from him or her.”
Some pediatric conditions that require surgery present themselves emergently, the most common being appendicitis. Many pediatric problems that require surgery can be repaired in a planned, elective fashion, such as hernias and congenital cysts.
For elective surgery, pediatric surgeons and staff prepare the child and family prior to the procedure to reduce stress and uncertainty. This approach includes the child and family reading an instructional book which features a narrative and realistic images of what will be encountered from arising the morning of surgery to returning home. A parent usually accompanies the child into the operating room until the child is asleep and is present in the recovery room to share the experience.
According to Dr. Buck, recovery time after a surgery depends on the type of procedure and the child’s age. “For many surgical procedures a baby or toddler can return to full activity the same day,” he says. “School-aged children can go back to school within a day or two, but should be kept out of competitive sports for a week or two. With teenagers, we try to do the surgery on a Friday so they have the weekend to recover.”
Working with an entire family, rather than just one patient, takes special consideration. “We interact with the entire family to limit unnecessary anxiety for all,” says Dr. Buck. “Our goal is to make the experience as positive as we can for both the patient and his or her family.”
According to Dr. Buck, the GBMC experience reduces stress for patients and their families. “Simple things like easy parking and having people meet you on time with a smile makes surgery easier for patients,” he says. “Patients are also able to meet everyone involved in the procedure and are able to see we are committed to doing our jobs well.”
