Office Minor Surgeries and Procedures

Pediatricians have reported that inadequate training and low procedural confidence are major hinderances to performing minor surgeries and procedures in the office setting. However, there are a number of benefits to performing these procedures in the office, including improved access to care, patient comfort, cost-savings, and pediatrician job satisfaction. Several common minor surgeries and procedures can potentially be performed by pediatricians in the office safely and efficiently. Pediatricians should also be comfortable providing anticipatory guidance and aftercare management for these procedures whether performed in the office, emergency department, urgent care, or subspecialty clinic. This article provides step-by-step guidance for several of these procedures and discusses best practices in aftercare, common complications, and indications for referral. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic tools that provide procedural analgesia and anxiolysis are also reviewed.