Surgical Specialties

Anesthesiology

This service is responsible for the care of newborns, infants, and children undergoing surgery. The service has a particular interest in eliminating postoperative pain in all ages using state-of-the-art techniques with epidural, caudal, regional, and local anesthesia and patient-controlled analgesia. A pain care team of anesthesiologists is available to provide analgesia throughout the child's hospital stay.

Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Comprehensive management of all congenital and acquired non-cardiac thoracic problems in neonates, children, and teenagers is offered. Areas of expertise include chest wall deformities and congenital and acquired diseases of the lungs, esophagus, and trachea. Services include video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as well as airway bronchoscopy and the Ross Procedure.

Cleft Lip and Palate Program

A multi specialty group including plastic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, speech pathology and the feeding team designed to treat and follow children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial anomalies. See Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. See Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Dental Medicine and Oral Surgery

In addition to pediatric dentistry and dental hygiene, this department delivers consultative services and direct patient care in the areas of cosmetic, restorative, prosthetic and oral and maxillofacial surgery for children. Patients are seen both on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Pediatric dentistry provides comprehensive oral health care to meet the individual needs of each child. This includes prevention and management of dental caries (tooth decay), abscessed and infected teeth, management of injuries to teeth, recognition and management of oral abnormalities and diseases. Unique challenges posed by children with special health concerns are especially recognized. Management utilizing conscious sedation and other means are used and tailored to each of our pediatric patients.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery provides treatment for pediatric patients including:

complex tooth removal
removal of impacted wisdom teeth
tooth exposure for the orthodontist
diagnosis and removal of benign, non-cancerous growths in the mouth, lips or jaw bones
diagnosis and treatment of oral conditions associated with systemic diseases
orthodontic surgery of the upper and lower jaws, chin and skull
TMJ treatments - both surgical and non-surgical
safe general anesthesia or sedation

Dermatology

A full spectrum of pediatric skin disorders are treated including inherited, infectious and inflammatory dermatoses. Simple and complex surgery is performed in the clinic as is laser surgery of vascular and pigmented lesions.

Nephrology

Pediatric nephrology is interested in the diagnosis and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents with all forms of renal disorders, including hematuria and proteinuria; hypertension; urinary tract infections; cystic disease of the kidney; cystitis; vesicoureteral reflux; enuresis; hypercalciuria; metabolic bone disease; acute and chronic renal insufficiency; and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base abnormailites. The section is particularly interested in children with acute and chronic renal failure.

Pediatric nephrology is able to perform all standard renal diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including ambulatory and blood pressure monitoring, percutaneous renal biopsy, acute and chronic dialysis (both hemo- and peri-toneal), hemofiltration, and post-transplant care. The section coordinated its activities with specialists in pediatric urology and renal transplantation, dialysis nurses, social workers, and renal dieticians to provide integrated patient care. A myelomeningocele service at the Janet Weis Children's Hospital provides comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation and care for children with spina bifida and/or spinal cord defects. Pediatric nephrology also participates in a yearly summer camp for children with kidney problems.

Neurosurgery

This section of neurosurgery is involved in the treatment of children with any type of surgical disorder of the central nervous system, including brain tumors, head injury, spina bifida, tethered cord syndrome, cerebral palsy, congenital malformations of the skull, hydrcephalus, craniofacial anomalies, peripheral nerve tumors, injuries, and epilepsy.

Ophthalmology

Pediatric ophthalmology provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, and medical and surgical treatment for all children under 16 years of age. Strabismus care is available to children as well as adults. The services available to treat problems include, but are not limited to, strabismus, amblyopia, cataract (congenital, infantile, or juvenile), congenital ptosis, nystagmus, nasal lacrimal duct obstruction, dacryocystitis in children and other juvenile tearing problems, tumors of the orbit in children, orbital and presceptal cellulitis, congenital malformations of the eye and orbit, and syndromes that affect the eye and orbit. A close working relationship exists with other subspecialty services to be certain that the appropriate subspecialty care is available to all patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic evaluations are available for adults with strabismus.

Surgical interventions for patients, where appropriate, include general anesthesia and the use of adjustable sutures with localized anesthesia. Pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) is available to referring physicians.

Orthopaedics

This service treats the full spectrum of congenital and acquired pediatric musculo-skeletal disorders including neuromuscular disorders, spinal deformities in children and adolescents, complex limb deformities, limb length discrepancies, and congenital and acquired pediatric limb deficiencies.
The department also maintains a Sports Medicine/Sports Injury Clinic.

Otolaryngology/Audiology

Subspecialty trained pediatric otolaryngologists manage the care for disorders of the head and neck in children. These include management of a disease spectrum from a simple sore throat to the management of difficult airway problems or the most Laryngo-tracheal reconstruction for complicated congenital deformities.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Physicians treat congenital deformities such as cleft palate, congenital hand anomalies including syndactyly, and other acquired abnormalities using the latest techniques in reconstructive surgery, including microsurgery and laser technology. The staff offers treatment of traumatic injuries and the reconstruction of defects following the resection of tumors.
Cleft Lip & Palate Program
A multispecialty group including plastic surgery, ENT, pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, speech pathology and the feeding team is designed to treat and follow children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial abnormalities.

Thoracic Surgery

Trauma Services

Pediatric trauma services are coordinated by the pediatric trauma specialists at Geisinger Medical Center. Children suffering multiple traumas are cared for by a multidisciplinary team in conjunction with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and all pediatric surgical subspecialties as necessary. ECMO support is available for unrelenting pulmonary or cardiac failure.

Support Groups

Precious Hearts Support Group - cardiology
POPS (pediatric oncology parent support) - hematology/oncology
Siblings Group - hematology/oncology
Middle School Kids Group - psychology
Parent/Child Group - psychology
Adolescent Group Therapy - psychology
PA Cystic Fibrosis, Inc. (Mifflinburg)