Pediatric Surgery

Overview

At Mass General for Children (MGfC), our pediatric surgery team delivers high-quality surgical care for infants, children, and young adults. Our top pediatric surgeons specialize in pediatric general surgery and thoracic surgery, treating everything from common problems like a hernia or appendicitis to complex congenital conditions of the abdomen or chest. Patients will receive expert care from some of the best pediatric surgeons in the world.

Why Choose MGfC Pediatric Surgery

MGfC is a top hospital for pediatric surgery, performing the full breadth of pediatric surgery from pediatric general surgery to more specialized children’s surgery. We take a family-centered approach to care and deliver the latest and most advanced treatments and technologies to our patients, including minimally invasive surgery. Our MGfC pediatric surgeons perform leading-edge scientific research that has greatly advanced our understanding of childhood diseases. We are also certified as a center of excellence for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

Call 617-726-0270 to make an appointment with a pediatric surgeon near you.

Conditions We Treat

• Conditions of the head and neck
• Thoracic (chest) disorders
• Abdominal conditions
• Genitourinary (urinary or genital) disorders
• Gynecology
• Conditions of the skin
• Oncology (cancer)
• Vascular access

Services and Programs

• Bowel Management Program
• Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Surgery
• Adolescent Weight Loss Surgery Program
• Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
• Pediatric and Adolescent Surgical Oncology
• Pediatric Vascular Anomalies Program
• Spina Bifida and Related Disorders Program
• Fetal Care Program
• Pediatric Thyroid Surgery Program
• Neurogastroenterology Program
• Pectus Excavatum Program
• Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
• Pediatric Pigmented Nevus Program
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Program
• Pediatric General Anesthesia
• Pediatric Spinal Anesthesia

Patient Resources

View the full collection of patient resources from Pediatric Surgery at MGfC.

Patient Stories

View the full collection of patient stories from across MGfC.

Lindsey's story: An incidental finding, life-saving care
After a routine appendectomy failed to alleviate 11-year-old Lindsey Scheyer's symptoms, she underwent additional testing, which revealed something much more alarming and unexpected: a two-inch-long benign tumor on her pancreas. Learn about her spleen-sparing pancreas surgery at Mass General.

Molly’s story: Human connection and innovative surgery helps teen with scoliosis
When Molly Murphy, 15, was in elementary school, a physical therapist found that she had scoliosis. If a back brace was not able to limit the progression of the curve, Molly’s family knew that eventually, she would need surgery. With a new surgical technique called anterior vertebral tethering, Molly's scoliosis and quality of life have improved.

Erin’s story: Kindness and inclusive care help researcher flourish after childhood liver transplant
Shortly after she turned 4, Erin Walker had a successful liver transplant at MGfC. Now in her late 30s, Erin remembers the compassion and gentleness shown to her by Ronald Kleinman, MD, then a pediatric gastroenterologist and now the Physician-in-Chief at MGfC.

Alaina’s story: Mother’s intuition and community-based care saves kindergartner after chest injury
Alaina Harrington had a tiny cut on her chest after trying to stop a drinking glass from falling. An emergency room visit revealed that a glass shard had partially collapsed one of her lungs. After surgery to remove the glass shard, Alaina is breathing better and back to her typical happy, bubbly nature.

Grayson's story: Hurdle by hurdle, toddler reaches the finish line with family-centered care
In 2017, Ashley McAlpine and her husband, Garret, went to her 20-week ultrasound. It was supposed to be an exciting appointment to find out their baby’s sex, but it quickly plunged into uncertain territory. Doctors diagnosed the McAlpine’s baby boy with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Research

The Department of Pediatric Surgery has an extensive program in basic research. Areas of focus include:

• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Respiratory failure
• The development of fetal inhibitors as anti-cancer agents
• Intersex abnormalities and sexual differentiation
• General fetal and embryologic development
• Development of the intestine and the study of intestinal motility disorders, such as Hirschsprung's disease
• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering
• Stem cell biology