Neonatal Surgery

Five-week-old Sofia needed surgery on her PDA

Neonatal surgery is a surgical sub-specialty of pediatric surgery that consists of the surgical care of newborn infants, especially ill or premature newborn infants. Practicing surgeons exclusively focusing on neonates, infants in the first 28 days after birth, are called neonatal surgeons, and heavily coordinate with a hospital's NICU. Neonatal surgeons often perform corrective surgeries, including chest, abdominal, and urological defects. Neonatal surgeons are also heavily involved in the post-operative care of patients.

Neonatal surgery is the surgical counterpart to neonatology.

Notable Neonatal Surgeons

• Dr. Addison Montgomery (Director of Medicine and staff, OB/GYN at Seaside Health and Wellness, Attending OB/GYN and neonatal surgeon at St. Ambrose Hospital, and former Head of OB/GYN and Neonatal Surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital)

Notes and Trivia

• Although pediatric surgeons are capable of performing neonatal surgeries, neonatal surgeons are far more skilled in this area.
  • Arizona and Alex have been shown performing neonatal surgeries and having patients in the NICU
• There are only 8 people in the world, including Addison, who can perform neonatal surgery on a world-class level.

See Also

• Pediatric Surgery
• Fetal Surgery
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Neonatology