Common Misconceptions

Adopt healthy life style - Avoid over eating, avoid "junk" food, aerated drinks, excess fatty foods etc. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, raw foods. Ensure adequate exposure to fresh air and sunlight, regular exercise, drink plenty of water and avoid constipation. Ensure completer immunization. Develop calm and peaceful state of mind - Avoid stress of excessive competetiveness, Overcome anger, greed, jealousy, hatred etc. Cultivate Faith in a higher power and intelligence. Absolute, unquestioning faith in GOD is the best method for instantaneous healing.

Ultrasonography in pregnancy (anomaly scan), Periodic checkup, urine exam for any fever, investigations as per medical advice, do not ignore symptoms

Treatment Focused on whole child rather than on disease with aim to understand psychosocial & other factors behind disease

Many procedures are now done as day care surgery - e.g. Hernia, Hydrocele, Orchiopexy, Circumcision, Urethral valve fulguration, Meatotomy, distal hypospadias repair etc.

Most pediatric urologic procedures are now done under caudal block which is very safe and avoids risks of general anesthesia.

Most children can have practically painless post operative period by judicious combination of intra- operative anesthetic infiltration, rectal analgesic suppositories, early oral analgesics, parenteral narcotics, adequate sedation etc.

Both before and after surgery, children are no longer kept starving for prolonged periods. Most infants and small children can be allowed clear liquids & breast milk up to 2 hrs before surgery. Post operatively, children usually allowed water as soon as they are awake & alert

Most healthy children may not need any blood investigations prior to even major surgery. This significantly reduces anxiety and pain and the resultant psychologic trauma.

Most children require minimum rest even after major surgery and hardly require restriction of activity.

In most cases, the operative wound is closed by absorbable sutures taken beneath the skin, thereby eliminating the need for sutures to be removed. This minimizes anxiety as well as pain.

In most clean surgery where the skin has been closed by subcuticular sutures, the wound gets sealed within 48 hrs after which no dressing is required and the child may even take bath.

With modern surgical techniques, intra operative blood loss is minimal and transfusion is rarely required thereby eliminating complications related to transfusion

In most cases of clean surgery only one intra operative dose of antibiotic is used.