Important operative procedures in the supportive therapy of solid paediatric tumors

Abstract

Our aim is to present the paediatric surgeons’ role in the treatment of malignancies in children and to show him as an important member of the multidisciplinary team of specialists involved in oncologic pathology. Paediatric surgeons are involved practically throughout the entire process of diagnostics and therapy. Interventions can be roughly divided into emergent, supportive and palliative. Emergency procedures include, for instance, bleeding management when large tumours prone to haemorrhage are involved, thoracocentesis in pleural effusions, hematothorax or pneumothorax. Procedures in supportive management include tumour biopsy, implantation of Port-a-cath® or Broviac catheters before chemotherapy, feeding gastrostomies, decompressing pyelostomies and similar procedures. Palliative procedures are performed in terminal patients without a chance of recovery, in an attempt to improve the quality of life. With that in mind the paediatric surgeon plays an important role as an active team member and has to keep up to date with modern courses of treatment and procedures which fall into his domain.