Long-term outcomes in neonatal surgery

Abstract

Paediatric surgery and neonatal surgery as a part of it started to develop to an independent surgical speciality after World War II simultaneously in many Western countries. The first paediatric intensive care units and neonatal surgical units were opened in 1950s. These factors lead to rapid change in the mortality of patients with congenital malformations. Specialised paediatric surgeons and, surgical wards and operation theatres dedicated to care for children enabled survival of increasing numbers of patients with congenital defects and acquired neonatal surgical problems.