Pediatric surgery: World-class surgical care close to home

No surgery is "routine" when it involves your child. Fortunately, the UW Health Kids General Surgery team at American Family Children's Hospital has the kind of experience in caring for kids that yields outstanding outcomes and peace of mind for the whole family.

Overview

Expert care near you

You don't have to travel far when your child needs surgery. UW Health Kids surgical experts offer world-class care using the latest procedures and tools.

With our help, children of all ages recover from disease or injury faster. We use minimally invasive surgery techniques, whenever possible. Our goal is to minimize pain, promote healing and get your kid back to being a kid.

Medical professionals around the world recognize UW Health Kids surgeons for their expertise and skill. From trauma care to cancer surgery to reconstructive surgery, we are ready to help.

Our programs

We don't just excel in one area of surgery. Instead, UW Health Kids offers many services to help your child live their best life. Our programs include:

Mary Briggs-Pomo and her son Ben Pomo posing for a selfie on an airplane

I will always credit Dr. Nichol for saving his life by taking me seriously and getting Ben on the right track.

Mary Briggs-Pomo
Mary remembers how scary her son’s health was almost from the moment he was born 10 years ago. But thanks to a team of pediatric specialists that listened and took her concerns seriously, she has answers and a happy, giggly, cuddly little boy.
Child Ivy Van Dong wearing a surgeon costume

They took care of my baby, but they also took the time to take care of me, too.

Beth
UW Health Kids doctors created a care plan for Beth's daughter, Ivy, before she was born — a plan that included surgery when she was just 36 hours old.

Conditions and treatments

Surgical solutions for all childhood needs

Conditions we treat

UW Health Kids surgeons treat a variety of pediatric health conditions, including:

  • Circumcision

  • Hydrocele

  • Inguinal hernia

  • Ovarian tumors

  • Ovarian torsion

  • Undescended testicle

  • Appendicitis

  • Cholelithiasis (gallstones)

  • Constipation

  • Crohn’s disease

  • Failure to thrive and feeding difficulties

  • GERD

  • Hiatal hernia

  • Hirschsprung's disease

  • Intussusception

  • Irritable bowel disease (IBD)

  • Malrotation

  • Meckel’s diverticulum

  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

  • Short gut syndrome / Intestinal failure

  • Ulcerative colitis

  • Volvulus

  • Biliary atresia

  • Colonic atresia

  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)

  • Congenital lung lesions

  • Congenital pulmonary adenomatoid malformation (CPAM)

  • Duodenal atresia

  • Esophageal atresia (EA)

  • Gastroschisis

  • Hirschsprung's disease

  • Ileal atresia

  • Imperforate anus

  • Jejunal atresia

  • Necrotizing enterocolitis

  • Omphalocele

  • Pulmonary sequestration

  • Pyloric stenosis

  • Tracheoesophageal fistula

  • Hepatoblastoma / liver tumors

  • Neuroblastoma

  • Vascular anomalies

  • Wilm's tumor / renal tumors

  • Pectus carinatum (pigeon chest)

  • Pectus excavatum (funnel chest)

  • Spontaneous pneumothorax

  • Thoracic cysts and tumors

  • Endocrine problems

  • Fetal surgery and prenatal consultation

  • Pilonidal sinus/cyst/abscess

  • Skin lesions and cysts

  • Splenomegaly

  • Trauma

  • Vascular anomalies

Locations

How to find us

The UW Health Kids general surgery team cares for your child at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison and at outreach clinics across Wisconsin.

Meet our team

Specialty care for kids who need surgery

UW Health Kids general surgeons are committed to helping your child live better.

Our providers

Learn more

Things to know about UW Health Kids general surgery

We offer several resources to help you understand and prepare for your child's surgery.

Explore our videos

Note: Due to the current state of COVID-19 in our community, a temporary change has been made — family members will not go back into the operating room. Your care team will work with you to help provide safe and supportive care for your child.

If your child is coming to American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wis., for surgery, you probably have lots of questions. This video, narrated by 13-year-old Ivy, gives you and your child a good sense of what to expect on the day of surgery.

Watch Ivy explain

Knowing what to expect helps teens feel more at ease the day of surgery. This video explains what teens can expect when undergoing surgery at East Madison Hospital..

Kids who need surgery are often fearful, nervous and confused, and understandably so. UW Health Kids goes to great lengths to allay their apprehension, employing Child Life staff to answer questions and keeping the children's families involved from beginning to end.

Watch

UW Health Kids cardiologists and surgeons at American Family Children's Hospital and Dean & St. Mary's in Madison, Wis., teamed up to diagnose and treat esophagus and heart problems diagnosed at Carson Huebel's birth.

Watch Carson's story

Jenny Raduenz was born with her intestines on the outside of her body and has undergone many surgeries during her 24 years. She has short gut syndrome - her small intestine is just 180 centimeters long; the typical length is 22 or 23 feet. Raduenz calls the UW Health Pediatric Short Gut/Intestinal Failure Clinic "a dream come true."

Watch Jenny's story

Additional resources

Smiling child with sign reading UW Health Kids
UW Health Kids
Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. We focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. Together, we get your child back to health and enjoying being a kid.