SMS Hospital, Jaipur, earlier known as Lady Willingdon Hospital had a separate General Surgery Department from the very onset. Children in those days were treated as miniature adults but in early sixties, it was realized that feeble cries of these children were often lost amidst the loud agonizing sighs of adult surgical patients. It was then desired to ponder facilities to a trained surgeon who is dedicated to children care and compassionate enough towards agony of small patients. With the untiring efforts of Dr. L. R. Sarin, the then superintendent of SMS Hospital, a separate unit of Paediatric Surgery was created with the appointment of Dr. K. C. Sogani as reader who had been trained in Paediatric Surgery in U.S.A. and U.K., the Paediatric Surgery unit stared functioning from 1st July 1965. Thus, the department of Paediatric Surgery has been serving the state for more than 50 years.
Later on demand for a separate paediatric Hospital was felt and due to the perseverance of Dr. Sogani, a separate children hospital came into existence in the international year for children in 1979. This new hospital is popularly known as Jay Kay Lon Hospital (SPMCHI). Two units of Paediatric Medicine and one unit of Paediatric Surgery (40 beds) were shifted to this hospital. With the untiring and dedicated efforts of Dr. Sogani, Post Doctoral Course (M.Ch) was started and was the first super specialty department in SMS Medical College, Jaipur to start M.Ch course in 1978. So far 84 M.Ch. students from all over India have passed from the Department, making the department one of the largest contributors to Paediatric Surgery faculty and Paediatric Surgery consultants in India. The department had the privilege of organizing Annual Conference of Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (IAPSCON) in the year 1974, 1983 & 2007. Department also conducted International Workshop on Paediatric Urology in 1998 and Operative Workshop on Paediatric Laparoscopy in 2008. The department also had the privilege of supporting and jointly hosting 10th Annual National Conference of PESI-IAPSCON in 2015 (Paediatric Endo Surgeons Group of India). Advance Urology & Laparoscopic Procedures are being performed since 2008.
In the year 2017, under the aegis of IAPS, the Rajasthan Chapter of IAPS (RCIAPS) was registered under the society act. At present, the office bearers of RCIAPS are:- 1. Chairman – Dr. Chetan Sharma 2. Secretary – Dr. Arvind Kumar Shukla 3. Treasurer – Dr. Pradeep Kumar Gupta
At present, the total bed strength is 200; including 40 Neonatal Surgical ICU beds (2 Neonatal Surgical ICU’s). Also, new Post-operative Surgical ICU with bed strength of 20 is operational from this year. Department has four Service Units. At present it comprises of 4 Senior Professor, 2 Associate Professors, 5 Assistant Professors, 1 Principal Specialist (Post M.Ch. Paediatric Surgery), 2 Senior Residents (Post M.Ch. Paediatric Surgery), 14 M.Ch. Residents, 3 Senior Medical Officers. Total Number of 350 Publications, both national and international journals of repute has been published from department.
Average annual number of OPD and IPD patients are 56538 and 8248 respectively; with average daily OPD of 153/day and daily IPD of 25/ day. Total number of major operations performed was 4253 in 2017; with average of 12-15 major operations daily and minor operations performed were 1296 in 2017.
Surgical procedures performed are minimal access, which include laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, cystoscopy, neurosurgical ventriculoscopy. Approximately 500 Neurosurgical procedures are carried out in one year; 250 Head & neck are performed yearly. 170 Thoracic lung procedures; Urological procedures include urethroplasty for Hypospadias, and all paediatric solid tumors of trunk are managed by department Neonatal Surgery is one of the important focuses of the department. All congenital malformations are operated and managed by department, exceptions being the cardiac malformation. Also both preoperative and postoperative care is provided exclusively by the department, with fairly good results. Newborn surgeries performed are Esophageal Atresia (Approximately 300 repairs annually), 60 cases of Congenial Diaphragmatic hernia / Eventration, Lobectomy in neonatal age group. Neonatal Neurosurgical procedures include repair of meningomyelocele, encephalocele and VP shunts (hydrocephalus). Neonatal abdominal wall and umbilical defects like Exomphalos and Gastroschisis (Approximately 60) are repaired. Neonatal inguinal hernias, Umbilical Vein catheterisation, peritoneal dialysis catheterisation is managed by department.
All Neonatal gastrointestinal atresias, obstruction and perforation and also Billiary Atresia Choledochal Cyst are managed exclusively by the department. Surgeries for Sacrococcygeal teratoma and other Newborn tumors are also operated and managed by department.
The process of developing subspecialties in Paediatric Surgery has already begun. All these efforts will go a long way in great advancements at this centre making it the apex referral centre not only for the state but also for adjoining states of Haryana, MP, & Eastern parts of UP. The department has emerged as one of the best centre for teaching and training for M.Ch. candidates.