Services

DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Brief Introduction 

The Department of Paediatric Surgery at St. John’s began as a small unit under General Surgery and was formally commissioned in 1987 by Dr. Ashley D’Cruz. The MCh programme launched in 2000, with its curriculum crafted by Dr. Ashley D’Cruz and Dr. Kanishka Das, marked a major academic milestone. Over time, the department has expanded into a 40-bedded unit with dedicated paediatric surgical operating theatres, performing over 1,200 procedures annually, including complex reconstructions. It now functions as a comprehensive tertiary referral centre providing multidisciplinary care in close partnership with allied specialities like Paediatrics,  Paediatric Nephrology, Peadiatric Oncology and Neonatology. Academically, the department has an intake of 2 MCh trainees a year, 6 faculty and is currently led by Dr. Prasanna Kumar A.R. The department contributes actively to teaching, training, and research with numerous indexed publications, book chapters, projects and training programme.

Scope of Services & Highlights

Our department offers a complete spectrum of paediatric surgical services, including:

• Neonatal surgery for life-threatening congenital anomalies
• Management of congenital deformities, simple to complex
• Paediatric urology is a major workload —reconstructive surgeries, management of obstructive uropathies, reflux, and stone disease. Investigations like Micturating cystourethrogram (MCU) and Urodynamics are done regularly. These patients are followed up in a speciality clinic called Nephrology-Urology Clinic (NUC) run weekly. 
• Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida care, delivered through structured multidisciplinary programmes and dedicated clinic at the Unit of Hope
• Thoracic surgery, including airway, lung, and mediastinal pathologies
• Paediatric oncology surgeries for solid tumours, including complex vascular access and maintenance
• Gastrointestinal - including complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic procedures
• Nationally recognised expertise in Hirschsprung’s disease and other colorectal conditions
• Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)—laparoscopy and thoracoscopy across all age groups. Bronchoscopies are routinely done for foreign body aspiration emergencies
• Trauma and emergency surgery, including polytrauma management
• Transplant programme and peri transplant support. 
• The paediatric gender clinic offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients with Disorders of Sex Development
• Academics-  Regular training programmes for healthcare professionals, nurses, in addition to Undergraduate and Super speciality teaching programmes. Morbidity and Mortality audits are done periodically to ensure highest levels of care

This comprehensive scope ensures inclusive, high-quality care for all children.

Uniqueness of Service (50–75 words)

The department’s uniqueness lies in its philosophy that no child should remain without help. Care is offered across all social, economic, and geographic barriers, ensuring every child receives dignity, healing, and acceptance. Children with deformities, gender concerns, or urological issues—often marginalised—are embraced with compassion. Through strong interdisciplinary collaboration, the department strives not only to treat disease but to restore identity, belonging, and hope, enabling each child to grow into a valued member of society.