Children's Hospital of Orange County

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Surgical Services

When a child needs a surgery, that child’s needs are very different than those of an adult patient needing the same or similar procedure. At CHOC, we have specialized in pediatric surgery since we welcomed our first patients in 1964. Our nationally recognized surgeons perform the latest procedures, using equipment that is customized to pediatric patients all the way from newborns to young adults—and our operating and procedure rooms are designed for safety, precision and efficiency.

The CHOC Difference

Everything we do is tailored to kids, from our pediatric-trained surgeons and staff, to our custom equipment, to our pediatric guidelines for anesthesia and pain management.

  • CHOC is the first hospital in Southern California and one of only four in the state to earn Level 1 Children’s Surgical Verification by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), recognizing excellence in quality improvement and patient safety.
  • We strive to use the latest and most minimally invasive techniques, including robotic surgery.
  • The first children’s hospital in the region to have fully integrated operating rooms.
  • A patient- and family-centered environment, where an entire support team is oriented around a child and his or her needs.
  • We operate in a way that minimizes effects on a child’s future growth and function and ensures the shortest recovery possible—so kids can get back to being kids.
  • We specialize in surgery for children of all ages, from babies as small as 400 grams to young adults up to 19 years old.
  • Child life specialists are always at the bedside, explaining surgery in age-appropriate terms and limiting the stress that it can bring.
  • During the course of a pregnancy, prenatal testing may identify issues with a baby that will need surgical attention immediately after birth. Our surgeons partner closely with your family and with CHOC neonatologists and other subspecialists to make a comprehensive plan for your baby.
Having surgery or a procedure at CHOC Hospital

Surgery at CHOC Hospital Journey

This video will describe what you can expect during your child’s surgery or procedure at CHOC Hospital.

Take this journey

State-of-the-art Surgery Programs

Our expertise is second to none. The surgeons at CHOC are known for offering the latest procedures no matter how complex.

Heart Surgery

Heart Surgery

General Surgery

General Surgery

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery

Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedic Surgery

Surgical NICU

Surgical NICU

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)

Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

Urology

Urology

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Gastroenterology

Surgery Guides

At CHOC, we understand that the hospital can be a scary, unpredictable place and that children better cope with hospital stays when they trust the hospital staff and feel safe. Our associates build positive relationships with patients and their families while keeping the overall atmosphere calm and child friendly. We do everything possible to make our hospital a home away from home during both inpatient and outpatient surgery and procedures.

Our comprehensive guides to the surgery process are intended to help patients and their caregivers feel confident and prepared for an upcoming surgical procedure. We encourage caregivers to read through all of the guides – including the After Surgery Guide – before the patient’s surgery. We also encourage you to print pages you may find helpful for reference as you prepare for the child’s procedure. This information pertains to all patients, from those undergoing outpatient noninvasive procedures to those undergoing major, invasive inpatient surgeries.

Preparing for Surgery

This guide provides the information families need to ensure that everything is in place before the patient’s surgery. Whether a child is having an elective outpatient procedure or a major invasive surgery requiring an inpatient stay, all procedures and surgeries should be taken very seriously. This information should not take the place of information or instructions provided by the child’s surgeon.

The Day of Surgery

The CHOC Day of Surgery Guide provides details about what to expect upon arrival and during the preparation for a surgery or procedure.

After Surgery

Caring for a patient after surgery is serious business, regardless of the type of procedure. It is important to follow all of the instructions provided by the patient’s healthcare team. Our after surgery guide can help parents prepare for what to expect after surgery but should never replace the patient’s physician’s at-home care instructions.

Surgical Center

The Tidwell Procedure Center at CHOC features nine operating rooms and advanced technology and information systems including the daVinci Si robotic surgical system with Firefly fluorescence imaging; full operating room data, imaging and video integration and video conferencing; the ROSA robotic device for neurological procedures; StealthStation surgical navigation and O-arm imaging technology; and a patient tracking system that allows families to track a patient’s progress throughout the surgical procedure. Using the technology integration system iSuite by Stryker, CHOC was the first children’s hospital in the region to have a fully integrated operating room. Learn more about the technology in our ORs.

The center also features three state-of-the-art endoscopy procedure rooms, two surgical procedure rooms and a Gastrointestinal Motility Lab. An 18-bed pre-operative unit includes all private rooms, and an 18-bed post-anesthesia care unit is configured to meet the unique needs of a wide variety of patients, including those who received anesthesia for an imaging procedure. Two isolation rooms are available for patients with contagious conditions, and other glass-enclosed rooms are for critical care patients who require specialized technology and ventilators.

Also featured is a cardiac catheterization lab, interventional radiology suites and a dedicated electrophysiology suite for patients with abnormal heart rhythms, offering both radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation, as well as 3D mapping.

Any questions about your child’s surgery should be directed to your surgeon’s office. To schedule a consultation with a CHOC pediatric surgeon, please call 714-364-4050.

Robert L. Tidwell Procedure Center at CHOC

Robert L. Tidwell Procedure Center at CHOC

Holmes Tower | 1201 W. La Veta Ave., 3rd Floor | Orange, CA 92868-3874