A premature newborn may require surgery for one or both of the following reasons:
- to correct a physical problem; or
- to support his stay in the NICU. A baby may, for example, need a tube in the stomach for feeding or an access line in a large vein for giving medications or nutrition.
Usually a baby does not need to undergo surgery immediately. It is important for a baby to be medically stable before undergoing the stress of an operation. This gives you time to discuss the procedures, risks, and benefits of the surgery with your doctor.
Can My Baby Tolerate Surgery?
Though babies are fragile in some ways-particularly in their ability to regulate body temperature-they are remarkably resilient in most respects. Healthy babies born at term can tolerate at least as much surgical stress as an adult. Babies recover quickly from surgery and often have fewer complications than adults.
The amount and kind of surgery that a preterm baby can tolerate somewhat depends on gestational age (the number of weeks that a baby was in the uterus). A baby that spent at least 32 weeks in the uterus (by which time the baby's lungs should be mature) should be able to tolerate a major operation. Babies that spent between 22 and 32 weeks in the uterus can tolerate surgery, but they face added challenges because certain parts of their bodies have not yet fully developed.
Overall, it's important to realize that most infants can tolerate long and difficult operations if needed. No baby should be restricted from surgery based on gestational age alone.
