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Neonatal surgery is the operative treatment of newborn babies, mostly for malformations present at birth. It is carried out by paediatric surgeons in hospitals that also have neonatal intensive care, children's anaesthesia and specialist nursing under one roof.

Many of these conditions are now detected on pregnancy scans, which allows birth to be planned in the right hospital. Survival is high for most conditions, but some babies need more than one operation and years of follow-up for feeding, bowel function or growth.

Conditions this service looks after

• Oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Gastroschisis and exomphalos (abdominal wall defects)
• Intestinal atresia, malrotation and volvulus
• Hirschsprung disease
• Anorectal malformations
• Necrotising enterocolitis in premature babies
• Congenital lung malformations
• Sacrococcygeal teratoma and other newborn tumours
• Inguinal hernia in premature infants

Tests you may be offered

• Antenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI: Identify many malformations before birth and allow counselling and delivery planning.
• X-rays with or without contrast: Show blocked bowel, free air or the position of a feeding tube in oesophageal atresia.
• Ultrasound and echocardiography: Look for associated heart, kidney and spine anomalies, which are common.
• Rectal suction biopsy: Confirms Hirschsprung disease by showing absent nerve cells.
• Genetic testing: Offered when several anomalies occur together.

Treatments available

• Primary repair: Joining the two ends of the oesophagus or bowel, or closing a diaphragm defect, in the first days of life.
• Staged repair: A temporary stoma or a silo for gastroschisis, followed by definitive surgery weeks or months later.
• Minimally invasive neonatal surgery: Thoracoscopic or laparoscopic repair for selected babies in experienced centres.
• Pull-through operations: For Hirschsprung disease and anorectal malformations.
• Intensive care support: Ventilation, intravenous nutrition and sometimes ECMO for diaphragmatic hernia.

When to ask for a specialist opinion

• A pregnancy scan has shown a possible malformation
• A newborn vomits green bile: this is an emergency until malrotation is excluded
• A baby has not passed meconium in the first 48 hours, or has a swollen abdomen
• Excessive drooling and choking with the first feeds
• You want a second opinion on a repair plan or on later problems after neonatal surgery

Travelling to Türkiye for this care

A newborn who needs surgery cannot be flown abroad in any ordinary way, and delay is dangerous. Such babies are operated on in the nearest centre with a NICU and paediatric surgeons. Travel has a role in two situations. First, before birth: if a scan has found a malformation, some families arrange to deliver in a hospital with full neonatal surgical services, which means relocating weeks ahead and coordinating obstetric care. Second, later in childhood: second opinions, redo operations and bowel management programmes can be planned. Follow-up lasts for years and needs a local team.

Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

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