Spectrum of Pediatric Surgical Cases at a Private Pediatric Specialized Hospital in Bangladesh: A Retrospective Study

Background Pediatric surgical conditions represent an important component of child health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding the spectrum of surgical conditions presenting to hospitals is essential for service planning, resource allocation, and improving surgical outcomes. However, data describing patterns of pediatric surgical cases in specialized hospitals in Bangladesh remain limited. Objective This study aimed to describe the spectrum of pediatric surgical cases managed at a private pediatric specialized hospital in Bangladesh among children aged 0-17 years, including perioperative outcomes. Methods This retrospective study reviewed all pediatric surgical cases managed at Nobojatok-Shishu and General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between May 2023 and April 2024. Data collected included age, sex, diagnosis, surgical procedures performed, and perioperative mortality outcomes. Diagnoses were categorized into major diagnostic groups: genitourinary, gastrointestinal, nervous system, neoplasms, and injury/trauma. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize frequencies and proportions. Results A total of 265 pediatric surgical cases were included. The mean age was 4.8 ± 4.8 years, with children aged one to five years constituting the largest group (109/265; 41.1%). There was a male predominance (198/265; 74.7%). Genitourinary conditions accounted for the largest proportion of cases (163/265; 61.5%), followed by gastrointestinal disorders (68/265; 25.7%) and neoplasms (15/265; 5.7%). The most frequent diagnoses were inguinal hernia (33/265; 12.5%), hypospadias (31/265; 11.7%), and undescended testis (24/265; 9.1%). The most commonly performed procedures were urethroplasty (34/265; 12.8%), herniotomy (32/265; 12.1%), and orchiopexy (25/265; 9.4%). Three perioperative deaths occurred during the study period (3/265; 1.1%), all among male patients. Conclusions Genitourinary anomalies and gastrointestinal surgical conditions constitute a major proportion of the pediatric surgical workload in this hospital. These findings highlight the need for strengthened pediatric surgical services within similar specialized settings in Bangladesh.