Paediatric Surgery

What is Paediatric Surgery

Paediatric Surgery involves the performance of different medical procedures for ill children. By studying paediatric surgery, candidates receive special training on dealing with birth defects and surgical techniques to be used at different stages of a child's development. They also learn the technique of treating trauma in children.

A paediatric surgeon is specially trained and skilled in understanding and providing care for a variety of health conditions among the younger generation. They perform tests, assess medical records, and come up with an effective treatment plan for the children.

The smaller the children, the harder the work is for a paediatric surgeon, as more accuracy and skills are required to treat the more delicate, younger patients.

Paediatric surgeons must work in collaboration with neonatal specialists and family physicians to come up with a highly efficient treatment plan. They must also work with the parents and explain pre and post-surgery care for children.

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Paediatric Surgery

MBBS- Interested candidates:

• Must have passed 10+2 level from a recognized educational board.

• Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are compulsory subjects. English is also a mandatory subject.

• Must secure a minimum of 50% in PCB/PCM. 

MS/M.Ch- Interested candidates:

• Must possess an MBBS degree or other similar bachelor's degrees.

• Must have finished a 1-year compulsory internship. 

Entrance Exams for Paediatric Surgery

For entrance into an MBBS programme, one must qualify NEET, which is a common written medical exam. Based on the scores achieved in this exam, admission is given to colleges. A high NEET score would lead to admission to a prestigious institute. Thus, NEET scores are very important.

For the MS/M.Ch degree, either NEET would be the accepted entrance examination or the college of choice would have its entrance test. Sometimes, even personal interviews are conducted if the entrance test goes well.

For Bachelor's Course:

NEET: NEET refers to the National Eligibility Entrance Test. It is an entrance test for students that wish to study undergraduate and postgraduate level medical and dental courses in India. The National Test Agency conducts the exam, and it usually contains 200 multiple choice questions to be attempted in 3 hours. The total marks are out of 200, and there is negative marking.

Master's Course

Depending upon the institution of study, they may accept NEET scores or may have their entrance exam. An MBBS is necessary to pursue MS/M.Ch in Paediatric Surgery. Students must have completed their MBBS and 1-year internship before applying for Masters 

Required Skillset for Paediatric Surgery

Paediatric surgeons require a very specific skill-set. Not only do they need to possess the talents of a skilled surgeon, but they also need the dexterity to be able to help the tiniest of patients. Apart from a very strong technical knowledge and skills of a surgeon, the following skills are highly required:

Dexterity: A paediatric surgeon works on tiny infants and children. They need a good level of dexterity to be able to accurately perform medical procedures and surgery on children. They must have very nimble fingers and agile movements. They must have good hand-eye coordination as well.

Emotions: A paediatric surgeon must develop a delicately, balanced emotional state of mind. They must have empathy as they are dealing with little children, but they must also be emotionally detached. Too much emotional investment could lead to the piling of guilt and inefficiency in the surgeon. This balance is very hard to find, but a paediatric surgeon must achieve it for their own and their patient's well-being.

Focus: Focus is a very important virtue for students of PS. They must be able to pay attention when required and focus solely on the child at risk. The human body is very delicate, especially that of children, and one wrong move could lead to disastrous consequences. A surgeon needs to stay focused and attentive throughout all medical procedures for this reason.

Decision-Making: Surgeons must have quick decision-making skills. In case of a crisis, they may not have the time to weigh out the pros and cons of actions thoroughly and hence, thinking on the feet and quick decisions are highly necessary. This skill could be the difference between the life and death of a patient.