Departments

Pediatric surgeons dedicate their practice to treating children ranging from the neonatal stage through late adolescence. The medical needs of a child differ from those of an adult, requiring pediatric surgeons to have additional education and advanced training. Our pediatric surgeons are recognized as experts in a broad range of specialties, including minimally invasive surgery, pediatric surgical oncology, fetal diagnosis, and treatment of congenital birth defects, pediatric trauma, and surgical procedures for intestinal failure. Through the most current and state-of-the-art surgical techniques, we help treat each child’s condition so he or she can focus on being a kid.Our team has expertise in the latest surgical technologies and the most delicate surgical situations, including neonatal surgery and ECMO (heart and lung bypass for severely ill infants). Our surgeons use advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques wherever possible to help secure outpatient surgeries or shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative discomfort for the child. All of our team members have extensive experience in working with children, and take extra measures to ensure that each child feels safe and comfortable. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Mechanical cardiac assist device program Newborn surgery, including repair of severe newborn congenital malformations of the airway, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genital tracts Operations for inguinal hernias, hydroceles, correction of undescended testicles, and other groin problems Pediatric abdominal surgery Pediatric heart transplant Pediatric thoracic surgery Surgical management of complex solid tumors Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic treatment of such conditions as abdominal and thoracic tumors, congenital lung masses, intestinal atresia, and trachea-esophageal fistula The first pediatric Level I trauma center in Connecticut at Yale New Haven Hospital Six conveniently located outpatient pediatric centers across the state where patients can be evaluated by a pediatric surgeon International recognition for new ways to reduce anxiety and pain in children who need surgery

Kidney stones, which affect about 10% of Americans, can be an agonizing condition. Kidney stone disease can develop when urine contains unusually high levels of minerals and salts. Family history, as well as certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, or bowel disease, can increase a patient’s risk of developing a kidney stone. Yale Medicine Urology is a leader in providing the highest quality care for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney stones. Our clinicians offer minimally invasive, state-of-the-art treatments. These include laser therapy, endoscopic surgery, or the delivery of energy (“shockwaves” or lithotripsy) to break up stones. Because there is a high chance of recurrent kidney stones—up to 50%—ours is one of the few programs in the country that also focuses on stone prevention. A team of urologists, nephrologists, and nutritionists will work with each patient, recommending individualized strategies, such as healthy dietary changes, that can help keep stones from developing in the future.

We offer comprehensive, compassionate care for children with traumatic injuries requiring surgery. Our team has ready access to laboratory, radiology, and diagnostic services to help provide the most accurate and immediate care available. Our team of pediatric surgeons and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) works together to address each child’s needs in treating injuries caused by trauma. We collaborate with primary care providers and other pediatric and medical specialists to optimize each child’s health care and provide parents with a comprehensive network for all of their child’s follow-up care, if necessary. We understand that traumatic injury can be frightening for the parents and the child. We want to help everyone feel as comfortable and safe as possible while addressing the child’s immediate medical and surgical needs. All of our team members have extensive experience in working with children and take extra measures to ensure that each child receives top-level care and that he or she feels safe and comfortable.

Urologic cancers include prostate, bladder, kidney, urothelial upper tract, testicular, penile, and urethral cancer. The Smilow Cancer Hospital Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program at Yale Medicine is uniquely qualified to treat these cancers. Our program utilizes the most advanced technology and techniques available to diagnose, manage, and treat urologic cancers. We are leaders in the use of MRI/US Fusion prostate biopsy (which blends MRI and ultrasound for increased accuracy), utilizing the ExactVu and Artemis systems across the region. This technology allows us to detect the cancer early and closely monitor it. When surgery is needed, our urologists provide extensive expertise in nerve-sparing laparoscopic and robotic surgery, traditional open surgery, and novel targeted or “focal“ treatments. Our patients also benefit from the expertise of a collaborative approach to cancer care, which personalizes treatment. We engage experts who specialize in medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, pathology, and diagnostic imaging. Patients also have access to caregivers who can help with the physical, emotional, and psychological issues related to these cancers. The extended team includes health educators, social workers, dieticians, and complementary therapists. Our goal is to ensure the highest standard of care to support our patients and their families. Imaging and Interventional Radiology Our radiologists are experts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and fluoroscopy, and combine their clinical expertise with advances in technology including MR-US fusion for prostate imaging, as well as positron emission tomography (PET) scans and advanced nuclear medicine scans. In addition, Blue Light™ Cystoscopy, an advanced endoscopic technology, is employed to improve bladder cancer detection and reduce risk of cancer recurrence. Surgery Our experienced urologic surgeons are committed to achieving optimal cancer outcomes, emphasizing organ preservation and the safeguarding of sexual and urinary function as much as possible. Through advanced techniques including minimally invasive and robotic surgery, our urologists are able to optimize both cancer care and surgical recovery. Cryoablation (tumor freezing) may be a good option for some patients with prostate or kidney tumors. Focal therapy is also available for appropriate patients with prostate cancer, as it is able to treat the cancer without the use of radiation or surgery, preserving the prostate, as well as urinary and sexual function. Similarly, for some patients with cancers of the ureter or upper urinary tract, a laser can be used to treat the tumor and preserve kidney function. Medical Oncology Chemotherapy is an important component of cancer care for many patients, as it can delay or prevent tumors from recurring when used before surgery. It can also help patients with advanced or metastatic disease. As a major national

This links to the program of the same name located under Cardiology. Text for this program in on the Int Med document. This links to the program of the same name located under Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Text for this program in on the Ob/Gyn document. We offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art general and thoracic surgical care for a range of congenital and acquired conditions.Our surgeons have extensive experience in the latest surgical technologies and the most delicate surgical situations. Whenever possible, our surgeons use advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques to help ensure each child experiences shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort. Our pediatric surgeons and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) dedicate their practice to treating children, ranging from the neonatal stage through late adolescence, and work together to address each child’s needs. We collaborate with primary care providers and other pediatric and medical specialists to optimize the child’s health. All of our team members have extensive experience in working with children and take extra measures to ensure that each child receives top-level care and that he or she feels safe and comfortable.

A pioneer in minimally invasive therapies for congenital heart disease, the Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Program at Yale performs diagnostic and interventional catheterization procedures on patients with congenital heart disease from childhood into adulthood. We perform a variety of procedures including closures of atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, and patent ductus arteriosus. Ours is the only congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory in Connecticut that offers transcatheter pulmonary valve replacements, including the Melody and Edwards valves. Yale New Haven Children's Hospital's digital pediatric catheterization suite features state-of-the-art equipment that allows for a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Our team has expertise in nonsurgical transcatheter treatment of aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, intravascular stent placement for narrowed arteries and vessels, and blood vessel coil occlusion. Our interventional team also works collaboratively with our pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons to deliver the most innovative hybrid procedures that are intended to minimize surgical time and difficulty, while making patients safer. Through active participation in clinical trials, we continue to push the boundaries of noninvasive treatments to replace pulmonary valves and close atrial septal defects.

Yale’s Department of Surgery is a premier center for adult and pediatric surgical treatment, providing comprehensive care for a full range of conditions and diseases. To ensure that our patients experience shorter hospital stays and less postoperative discomfort, we employ the latest technologies and surgical techniques, and perform minimally invasive surgery whenever possible. Our renowned surgeons and faculty continue to push the frontiers of surgical science through innovative treatment and leading-edge research, with the ability to offer treatment options that can be difficult to find elsewhere. More state-of-the-art surgical suites at Yale New Haven Hospital than in any other hospital in the region Collaboration with the Yale Department of Biomedical Engineering and with industry to develop 3-D bioprinting for the regeneration, repair, and replacement of human tissue and vessels Nationally recognized Center of Excellence and designated training center for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Yale’s Endocrine Neoplasia Laboratory is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary research group in which surgeons work with endocrine geneticists to decipher the molecular genetics of endocrine tumor disease First program in Connecticut to offer three different minimally invasive bariatric surgical techniques: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, LAP-Band® surgery, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

When children or adolescents have urological conditions, it can affect the whole family. We know that any diagnosis or corrective surgery can be scary for a child—and for the parents, too. Our doctors strive to provide detailed answers about the child’s condition and treatment options. We have expertise in treating the full range of conditions, including incontinence, stone disease, spina bifida, and urologic fetal anomalies, with a special emphasis in complex urogenital reconstruction and stone disease in children. Our skilled physicians and surgeons handle everything from simple checkups and circumcisions to reconstructive surgeries for differences in sexual development. The Differences/Variations in Sexual Development Program is one of our multidisciplinary programs featuring a team of specialists that includes pediatric endocrinology, urology, genetics, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, psychology, and social work. The team is available for consultation on patients with atypical genitalia and other hormonal or genetic issues impacting sexual development. These can include congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen insensitivity, Klinefelter's syndrome, Turner's syndrome, hypospadias, and other variations that may impact sexual development. Our Spina Bifida program also offers a multidisciplinary approach. Loss of bladder control can result from an injury or developmental problems of the nervous system. We can help deliver treatments that restore independence and make symptoms more manageable. Our Bladder and Continence Program helps children with a wide range of urinary issues, including daytime accidents and bedwetting, urinary tract infections, and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Our nephrologists offer comprehensive, compassionate care to children with acute and chronic kidney diseases and hypertension. We provide the complete spectrum of nephrology care from infancy to adolescence for patients from our local community and across the Northeast. Common conditions we treat include: Congenital kidney abnormalities Glomerular and vascular diseases Tubular diseases Polycystic kidney diseases Urinary tract abnormalities Hypertension Acid base disorders Fluid and electrolyte abnormalities Acute chronic renal disease End-stage renal disease Kidney transplants Nephrolithiasis Diabetic nephropathy

Urologic diseases affect more than 20 million men, women, and children in the United States. Yale Medicine Urology, named one of the nation’s best urology programs by U.S. News & World Report, cares for adults and children with conditions that affect the bladder, kidneys, pelvic floor, penis, testicles, and urinary tract. Some urologic conditions are present at birth, and others develop over time. Whether for a routine checkup or highly specialized care, our urologists and caregivers provide the most advanced treatment, grounded in research. Our urologists are leaders in the fields of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, as well as men’s health. Our oncology team has made key research breakthroughs in the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer and kidney cancer. In addition, we offer specialized care for kidney disease, incontinence, stone disease, sexual medicine, neurogenic bladder, transgender care, and reconstructive surgery after trauma. We use the most advanced technology and procedures to give our patients the best care available. Our urologists offer Artemis MRI-ultrasound fusion for prostate biopsy, advanced imaging, laparoscopic and daVinci Si robotic surgery, Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP), as well as UroLift and GreenLight laser procedures. Our doctors and the hospitals where we provide care rank among the best in the country. In addition to providing treatment at Yale New Haven Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, we also have offices located in communities across Connecticut. Above all, at Yale Medicine Urology, we believe in the importance of the patient-doctor relationship. It is the cornerstone of what we do—provide compassionate, quality urologic care to every patient, every day. A multidisciplinary team of urologists, specialty-trained nurses, caregivers, and support staff will take care of patients and their families. The urologist leads the care team, providing a diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as well as performing surgery, if needed, and overseeing the patient’s recovery and postsurgical care. The nurse coordinator is the patient’s advocate and care manager throughout care. Studies show that using nurse coordinators can reduce the length of hospital stays and enhance patient outcomes. Practice nurses provide the day-to-day care during clinical appointments or hospital stays. They administer medications, track vital signs, review general test results, respond to patients’ specific needs, and report to other members of the team. They are available around the clock to answer questions and to help patients through their care. The intake specialist helps to ensure patients are ready in advance of their appointment and have all forms and records completed and sent in advance. Intake specialists are experts at understanding the patient appointment and transfer process. If faced with a diagnosis o

From consultations with parents-to-be, to follow-up appointments with young adult patients, our pediatric neurosurgery specialists offer the most advanced medical care available, along with compassionate understanding and support for patients with pediatric neurosurgical conditions. Our reputation for surgical excellence combined with our understanding of the special needs of children and families who live with neurological diseases rank us among the finest Pediatric Neurosurgery sections in the country. In addition, the Yale New Haven Children's Hospital is the only hospital in the state to have a dedicated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), providing the highest level of care to children with neurological conditions. We provide comprehensive services to infants, toddlers, school-age children, adolescents, and young adults for common problems including: Hydrocephalus Brain and spinal cord tumors Spina bifida Craniofacial disorders (i.e., craniosynostosis) Brain or spine trauma Our pediatric neurosurgeons work closely with each other, as well as with an interdisciplinary team that includes orthopaedists, urologists, neurologists, radiation oncologists, neuropathologists, adult neurosurgeons, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Our full-time pediatric advanced practice nurse participates in all aspects of the child’s care and carefully coordinates evaluation and treatment appointments to make the process as convenient and timely as possible. Our operating facilities are designed for children, and our nursing units are arranged by age. Often, a family’s first contact with us takes place when they learn their unborn baby has a congenital abnormality of the central nervous system such as hydrocephalus or spina bifida. We provide counseling for these parents to help them understand how these conditions might affect the lives of children and their family members. Yale pediatric neurosurgeons were pioneers in the use of endoscopes (tiny fiber optic cameras) to treat hydrocephalus surgically, making it possible to bypass the obstruction and restore normal fluid flow. The procedure, called endoscopic third ventriculostomy, is a safe and effective treatment option. Our pediatric neurosurgeons also team with plastic surgeons to treat craniosynostosis, which affects the shape of the head. We re-contour the bones of the skull and re-secure them in such a way that symmetrical growth can occur. For brain tumors, we offer such specialized treatments as stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife surgery). We also offer electrocorticography and cortical mapping. These are techniques to identify areas of the brain that are critical to movement, feeling, memory, and speech so surgeons can remove as much of the tumor as possible without disturbing critical areas of the brain.

A variety of diseases can affect the health of the kidneys. We care for patients at every stage of kidney disease, offering scientifically proven treatments and a personalized care plan. The Department of Urology is part of the Living Donor Transplant Program at the Yale New Haven Transplantation Center where we care for patients with renal disease who are candidates for kidney transplantation. We have expertise in performing laparoscopic, living-donor nephrectomies, delivering the highest quality care to the kidney donor-patient team at Yale. At Yale Medicine, our patients have full access to leading physicians who can help with all aspects of renal disease. Patients also have access to world-class resources at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven. Our doctors are at the forefront of kidney disease and kidney cancer treatment and research, including novel immunotherapy approaches and the genetic characterization of kidney cancers. In addition, the Yale School of Medicine's Hereditary Kidney Cancer and Genetic Assessment Program investigates potential genetic causes of kidney cancer in young patients, including those with a family history and individuals with multiple tumors, to help family members determine if they carry a risk for kidney cancer.