Pediatric General Surgery

When your child needs surgery, trust the board-certified pediatric surgeons at University Health to provide the best care. Our team of surgeons, in partnership with UT Health San Antonio, has the compassion and experience to ensure the optimal outcome for your child.

All children’s surgeries are performed at University Hospital in San Antonio.

Conditions We Treat with Surgery

Our surgeons work with other teams across University Children’s Health to recommend and provide comprehensive treatment for your child. We treat conditions affecting any part of the body, from routine procedures to urgent and emergency surgeries.

Our dedication to specialized care means we treat conditions including:

• Neck disorders such as thyroglossal ducts
• Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation/Life Support (ECMO, ECLS)
• Chest and lung disorders 
  • Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF)
  • Pectus excavatum, carinatum and other chest wall deformities
• Gastrointestinal conditions
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Liver tumors, cysts and other disorders
  • Stomach and intestines
  • Appendicitis
  • Colon and rectal disorders such as Hirschsprung’s Disease
• Ovarian disorders
  • Cysts
  • Torsion
• Pediatric cancer surgery
  • Hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma, Wilm’s tumor, ovarian tumors and many others
  • Splenectomy (spleen removal) for blood disorders
• The full spectrum of neonatal surgical issues such as:
  • Long term IV access
  • Intestinal atresias
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
  • Imperforate anus and cloacal anomalies
• Skin disorders
  • Abscess
  • Biopsy
  • Pilonidal disease

What to Expect

Learn more about what to expect leading up to the day of your child’s inpatient or outpatient surgery.

Child Life Support

It can be a scary time for the whole family when your child needs surgery. Our Child Life specialists are here to support your child and the rest of your family during your time at University Hospital. 

Fresh Start Surgical Gifts Program

At University Health, we believe everyone deserves high quality care regardless of their ability to pay. We have partnered with Fresh Start Surgical Gifts to provide reconstructive surgery to qualifying pediatric patients. We are one of only four health systems in the United States to provide this free service through Fresh Start.

Fresh Start is for infants, children and teens with physical and cosmetic deformities who are in need of reconstructive surgery and related medical care. There is no cost to the patient or their families for the qualifying applicants to receive these life-changing surgeries.

Please email fresh.start@uhtx.com for more information.

What Sets Us Apart 

We offer comprehensive care for children across the spectrum, from routine hernia surgeries to rare congenital abnormalities. We use the latest technologies and techniques to deliver state of the art care to families in our community and across South Texas.

Our pediatric surgery team is also widely recognized for its comprehensive gastrostomy tube care. A gastrostomy tube (G tube) provides direct access to deliver food, medication or nutrients the stomach.