Smaller bodies need smaller surgical tools

Did you know that children’s veins need smaller needles, their bones have growth plates that surgeons need to be very careful around, and they respond differently to anesthesia? That’s why they need a team of pediatric experts that treats kids and only kids. Children also need smaller surgical tools tailored to them, hospital beds that fit them and nurses that can help them feel comfortable and safe.

Here, we have all that and more – because we know that kids aren’t just mini adults, and they need surgical care designed just for them.

The big difference

Our pediatric expertise is unmatched in the region, with #1 rankings in both the region and the state.

At Children's Hospital Colorado, all of our surgeons are board-certified and specially trained to perform surgeries on kids. And because pediatrics is our sole focus, our surgeons have more experience performing surgeries that are common to children like tonsillectomies and appendectomies.

Our pediatric anesthesiology team plays another crucial role in successful surgery. In addition to keeping children safely asleep and pain-free during surgery, our board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists help to dispel any fears your child may have before and after surgery.

Finally, our child life team is something you won’t find at most hospitals. They work to support patients and families throughout their hospital stay. When appropriate, they engage kids in therapeutic play, helping explain the procedure in terms children can understand. In addition to medical education, child life specialists can also provide recreational and educational activities both before and after a procedure to make your child’s hospital visit easier (and maybe even a little fun).

The little things

Sometimes for children, it’s the little things that make the difference. That’s why everything we do at Children’s Colorado helps create a positive experience – whether it’s letting kids ride to their room in one of our iconic red wagons, or providing them with their own colorful hospital gown.

We’ve even researched what colors to paint our halls, because we know that a bright, cheerful atmosphere helps promote healing.

At our Anschutz Medical Campus location, kids can take advantage of one of our play areas. For longer stays, we have Seacrest Studios where children can be part of a live radio show, or a T(w)een Zone where older children can relax and hang out. We also have a range of amenities for surgery at our Colorado Springs location.

At our North Campus and South Campus locations, we offer private pre-operation and recovery rooms, so parents can stay with their child until they fall asleep from the anesthesia and be right there when they wake up. 

These thoughtful details help reduce anxiety for children and parents during what can be a stressful situation. When a child has had a successful surgery and it is actually the toys they talk about, or their nurses that they remember most, we know we’ve done our job.

Ensuring a safe place for surgery

During this uncertain time, we want to assure you that we are taking every precaution against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Here's what we have done to make Children's Colorado a safe place for your child's surgery:

• Added screening and COVID-19 testing for patients, families and staff
• Updated our visitation policy with virtual visitation options
• Enforced the use of personal protective equipment
• Made changes to our air ventilation system

In addition to enhanced safety precautions, many of the pre-operation and post-operation appointments can be conducted via telehealth. These virtual visits help us provide excellent care from the comfort and privacy of your own home, with the effectiveness of an in-person appointment.

Pediatric expertise across all specialties

For common procedures like appendectomies or hernia repairs, some primary care providers may say you can take your child just about anywhere. But do you want to take your kid just anywhere?

When you come to Children’s Colorado, you can rest assured that you’re in a place designed just for kids, and we perform nearly every type of surgery you might need. Here are some of the more common conditions we treat with surgery:

• Appendicitis (treated with an appendectomy)
• Hernias (inguinal or umbilical)
• Hydroceles
• Undescended testicles
• Chest wall deformities pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum (treated with the Nuss procedure)
• Biliary disease including cholecystitis
• Acute abdominal pain
• Tonsillitis (treated with a tonsillectomy)
• Recurring ear infections (treated with ear tube surgery)

See a full list of conditions our pediatric surgeons treat