Children’s Wisconsin has one of the top pediatric surgery programs in the country. We perform hundreds of bowel surgeries each year. We use the latest, most child-friendly techniques.
We work with experts across Children’s Wisconsin to speed recovery from bowel surgery.
Your family will have access to:
- Nationally known surgical teams
- Experts in gastroenterology, nutrition and rehabilitation
- Less invasive surgery options
- Child life specialists to support your child
- Social workers, feeding therapists and other specialists
From your first visit through recovery, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Before Surgery
You’ll meet with your child’s care team to go over the reason for surgery and what to expect.
This may include:
- A physical exam, lab tests or imaging to help plan the procedure
- A meeting with the surgeon to review the type of surgery and ask questions
- Instructions about when to stop eating or drinking before surgery
- Help from a child life specialist to prepare your child in a calm, age-appropriate way
If your child has complex needs, you’ll work with our coordinated surgical care team. They can help schedule multiple visits and procedures on the same day to reduce stress.
During Surgery
Most bowel surgeries use less invasive techniques. They use small incisions and help kids recover faster. Your child will have general anesthesia and be asleep the whole time.
Your care team will keep you updated during the procedure. After surgery, your child will go to the recovery area, where we’ll watch them closely.
After Surgery
Your child may stay in the hospital for a few days, depending on the type of surgery. During this time, we’ll focus on:
- Managing pain and keeping your child comfortable
- Slowly restarting feeding
- Teaching you how to care for any stoma, G-tube or incision site
- Preparing you to return home with support from our nurses and care coordinators
Before you leave the hospital, we’ll review your child’s recovery plan. You’ll schedule any needed follow-ups. If your child had a temporary ostomy or tube, we’ll discuss reversal and long-term care options.