Dr. Shaoun treats children from the first hour of life. Newborn surgery is time-critical, and the first step is often to recognise that something is wrong and get the baby to the right hospital safely.
Warning signs in a newborn. Go to a hospital with a paediatric surgeon immediately
- Green (bile-stained) vomiting, or vomiting after every feed.
- Frothing at the mouth, choking or coughing with the first feeds (a possible food-pipe problem).
- A swollen belly, or no stool passed within about 48 hours of birth.
- No anal opening, or no urine passed in the first day.
- Any bulge, opening or covering-defect of the belly wall or the back.
- Fast or difficult breathing, or blue colour.
Conditions treated
- Food-pipe (oesophageal) atresia and other gullet problems
- Bowel blockage and twisting, including intestinal atresia
- Absent anal opening (see the separate page) and Hirschsprung disease
- Abdominal wall and navel defects
- Groin hernia in small and premature babies
- Some tumours and cysts that are found at birth or on scans in pregnancy
- Other congenital anomalies of the chest and abdomen
How to move a sick newborn
Keep the baby warm, do not feed if vomiting or a blockage is suspected, and go with the health records and any scan reports. Call the serial number if you need to know where to take the baby.
Common questions
Are birth defects found before birth?
Many can be seen on a pregnancy scan. Tell the surgeon if a scan showed something, and plan the delivery where a newborn surgeon is available.
Can a very small baby be operated on safely?
Newborn surgery is done with anaesthesia and care suited to small babies. Discuss your baby's specific risks with the surgeon.
This page is for general information for parents. Every child is different: after examination and tests, an experienced paediatric surgeon decides the condition and the method of treatment. So for any problem, please consult a registered paediatric surgeon.