Health Library

Articles In This Section

• Words to Know: Transplants

  Easy-to-understand definitions of some key transplant terms.

• Tracheostomy

  A tracheostomy is a surgically made opening in the front of the neck that goes directly into the airway. This keeps the pathway open so air can go through a tube, into the airway, and to the lungs.

• Surgeries and Procedures: Retinopathy of Prematurity

  Retinopathy of prematurity, which mostly occurs in premature babies, is a disease that causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Sometimes surgery is needed to prevent vision loss or blindness.

• Surgeries and Procedures: Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)

  Some kids have medical problems that prevent them from being able to take adequate nutrition by mouth. A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) is a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. Read this article to find out more about the gastrostomy procedure.

• Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC Line)

  A PICC line is like an IV line, but is much longer and can stay in place for longer periods.

• Laryngoscopy

  Laryngoscopy, a visual exam of the voicebox and airway, can help discover the causes of voice and breathing problems, throat or ear pain, and other bothersome symptoms.

• Getting a Blood Test

  Blood tests help doctors check how the body’s organs are working and see if medical treatments are helpful. Here's how they're done.

• Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)

  Some kids have medical problems that prevent them from being able to take adequate nutrition by mouth. A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) delivers nutrition directly to the stomach.

• Embolization

  Embolization is a procedure in which plugging material or a plugging object is put into a blood vessel to block it. It's used to help treat many conditions.

• Blood Transfusions

  A blood transfusion is a safe and relatively simple medical procedure that replaces blood lost during surgery or because of an injury or illness.

• What Is Interventional Radiology (IR)?

  Interventional radiology (IR) is a way for doctors to treat problems like vascular anomalies and tumors.

• Intravenous Line (IV)

  An intravenous line (IV) is a soft, flexible tube placed inside a vein, usually in the hand or arm. Doctors use them to give a person medicine or fluids.

• Tunneled Central Lines

  These surgically placed tubes let kids get blood drawn and receive intravenous (IV) medicines and fluids without repeated needle sticks.

• Central Lines (Central Venous Catheters)

  A central line, or central venous catheter, is much longer than a regular IV. Doctors use them to give medicine, fluids, blood, or nutrition to patients.

• Implanted Ports

  An implanted port is a type of central line that goes up to a vein near the heart or just inside the heart. A child can get medicine, fluids, blood, or nutrition through one.

• What’s a Laryngoscopy? (Video)

  Laryngoscopy is when a doctor uses a special camera to look down the throat to see the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords.

• Inducing Labor

  Find out why doctors may induce labor if you're past your due date, how it may be done, and how it may affect you and your baby.

• Cesarean Sections (C-Sections)

  Many babies are delivered via cesarean sections. Learn why and how C-sections are done.

• Skull Base Surgery

  Skull base surgery is done to remove tumors and other growths that appear at the bottom of the skull.

• Radioembolization (TARE-Y90) for Liver Tumors

  Radioembolization is a procedure used to treat some kinds of liver tumors. A radioactive material works on the tumor, not the healthy tissue around it.

• The Ravitch Procedure

  The Ravitch procedure is a surgery to correct severe pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum.

• Spinal Fusion Surgery

  A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that's done to stabilize or straighten the bones in the back. It can help kids and teens with scoliosis.

• Rigo Cheneau Brace

  A Rigo Cheneau brace is a type of spine brace for scoliosis. Used with physical therapy, it can improve a child’s posture.

• Pectus Excavatum: The Nuss Procedure

  The Nuss procedure is a surgery to correct severe pectus excavatum. It’s considered "minimally invasive" because only a few small cuts are needed.

• Limb Lengthening Surgery: Internal Lengthening Device

  Limb lengthening surgery is done when someone has a leg length discrepancy (one leg is shorter than the other). Sometimes this is treated with an internal lengthening device (a rod with a magnet).

• Limb Lengthening Surgery: External Fixator

  Limb lengthening surgery is done when someone has a leg length discrepancy (one leg is shorter than the other). Sometimes this is treated with an external fixator.

• Getting an X-Ray

  An X-ray is a safe and painless test that uses a small amount of radiation to make an image of bones, organs, and other parts of the body. Here's how they're done.

• External Fixator: Pin Care

  External fixators used for limb lengthening have pins that go through the skin and into the bone. It's important to know how to care for the pins at home to prevent infections.

• Casts

  Casts keep bones and other tissues in place while they heal. Here's what to expect, and how to care for casts.

• Tympanoplasty

  Tympanoplasty is a surgery to repair a hole in the eardrum that doesn’t close on its own. It can improve hearing and prevent water from getting into the middle ear.

• Ureteral Stent

  A ureteral stent is a small plastic tube placed inside the ureter to help pee pass from a kidney into the bladder.

• Peritoneal Dialysis

  This medical treatment helps people with kidney failure. It can be done at home, often overnight, to take over the kidneys' job of filtering blood.

• Meatoplasty

  The treatment for meatal stenosis is a simple procedure to make the opening of the meatus bigger called a meatoplasty.

• Hemodialysis

  Hemodialysis is a medical treatment that uses a machine with a special filter to take waste and extra water out of the blood.

• Dialysis

  Dialysis is a medical treatment that can take over the job of cleaning the blood when the kidneys can't.

• What Is a Cardiac Catheterization? (Video)

  A cardiac catheterization is a procedure that cardiologists (heart doctors) do. They put a catheter (a long, thin tube) into a blood vessel, then guide it the heart. Cardiac catheterizations help doctors diagnose and treat many different heart problems.

• The Lymphatic System and Lymphatic Conditions

  The body's lymphatic system keeps fluid levels in balance and defends against infections. But problems can happen. Find out about lymphatic conditions and how they're treated.

• Sclerotherapy

  Sclerotherapy is a procedure in which medicine is injected into blood vessels or lymph vessels to make them close. It's used to treat vascular malformations.

• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

  Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the use of a machine to do the work that the heart and lungs normally do.

• Cardiac Stents

  Cardiac stents are very small mesh wire tubes that hold blood vessels open so that blood can flow through the vessels normally. Find out about the procedure to place a stent.

• Cardiac Catheterization

  This minimally invasive procedure helps doctors perform diagnostic tests on the heart and even treat some heart conditions.

• Tear-Duct Blockage

  Blocked tear ducts are a fairly common problem in infants. The earlier they're discovered, the less likely it is that infection will result or surgery will be necessary.

• Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

  Retinopathy of prematurity, which can happen in premature babies, causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Some children will need surgery to prevent vision loss or blindness.

• Vagus Nerve Stimulator Therapy for Epilepsy

  Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) therapy is a treatment for epilepsy. It helps prevent or shorten the length of seizures.

• VP Shunts

  A VP shunt is a small plastic tube that helps drain extra cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. Most VP shunts are placed to treat hydrocephalus.

• Epilepsy Surgery

  Epilepsy surgery is an operation done on the brain to reduce or stop seizures.

• What’s an End Ostomy? (Video)

  Watch a short video to learn what an end ostomy is and how it works.

• What’s a Loop Ostomy? (Video)

  Watch a short video to learn what a loop ostomy is and how it works.

• What’s a Double Barrel Ostomy? (Video)

  Watch a short video to learn what a double barrel ostomy is and how it works.

• Ostomies

  For some digestive system problems, surgeons do a procedure called an ostomy that lets waste leave the body through a small opening in the skin of the belly.

• Nasogastric Tube (NG Tube)

  An NG tube goes through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach to deliver formula or medicine.

• Liver Transplant

  If your child needs a liver transplant, you're probably feeling lots of emotions. Fortunately, most kids who have liver transplants go on to live normal, healthy lives.

• Antegrade Continence Enema (ACE)

  An antegrade continence enema, or ACE, is a different way to give an enema. Enemas can help someone poop if they become constipated or have another problem moving their bowels.

• Appendectomy

  Learn the basics of an appendectomy so you know what to expect if your child has this surgery.