Pediatric Surgical Associates is delighted to announce the addition of Katie Willihnganz-Lawson, MD to our growing pediatric urology team. Dr. Katie Willihnganz-Lawson grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended medical school and completed her urology residency training at the University of Minnesota. She then completed her fellowship training in pediatric urology at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Willihnganz-Lawson enjoys all aspects of pediatric urology but is especially interested in genitourinary reconstruction, sex development, neurogenic bladder and congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. She is also trained in minimally invasive robotic surgery. During her training she researched surgical outcomes for patients with bladder exstrophy, vascular anomalies, and disorders of sex development. She has performed quality improvement projects and improved standardization of care and quality of life for pediatric urology patients. In both education and treatment, Dr. Willihnganz-Lawson uses a family-centered care model to engage her pediatric patients. She is excited to be returning to Minnesota and bringing her talents and skills as a physician and reconstructive surgeon to the Twin Cities!
Tag Archives: Pediatric Surgery
Pediatric Surgical Associates Welcomes Joshua Short, MD/PhD and Joseph Lillegard, MD/PhD!
Twin Cities native Dr. Short and his family are happy to return to Minnesota. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and then completed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He performed his general surgery residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and Hennepin County Medical Center. He completed a Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatric fellowship at the University of Minnesota and then completed his Pediatric Surgery fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He cares for and enjoys the full spectrum of neonatal and pediatric diseases, with a particular interest in minimally invasive surgical approaches.
Dr. Joseph Lillega
rd attended medical school at the University of Nevada where he completed his MD and PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology. He completed his surgical training at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN in General Surgery and his Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His areas of interest are Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery including minimally invasive laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery, neonatal congenital anomalies, congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, childhood malignancies, thyroid and parathyroid disease, anal rectal malformation repair, and the repair of chest wall deformities such as pectus excavatum and carnatum. He will be participating with the fetal surgery team performing operative fetoscopy and will be working to help start an open fetal surgery program. He is the Director of Research at the Midwest Fetal Care Center and conducts research related to ex-vivo and in-utero cell and gene correction strategies related to inborn errors of metabolism of the liver
Midwest Fetal Care Center
The Midwest Fetal Care Center (MWFCC), a partnership of Pediatric Surgical Associates, Children’s Hospital and Abbott Northwestern Hospital, provides maternal and fetal care when a high-risk pregnancy poses challenges. As the only advanced fetal care center in the Upper Midwest – and one of only a few in the United States – MWFCC brings together maternal fetal experts and the latest technology and treatments in a coordinated setting. We’re with patients every step of the way from prenatal diagnosis and fetal treatment to delivery, postnatal care and long-term follow-up.
Highly trained experts. Our fetal surgeons acquired training from world-renowned experts in fetal care surgery, making MWFCC one of only a small number of centers in the U.S. to offer diagnosis and treatment options like in-utero fetoscopy.
Impressive outcomes. For babies needing fetal surgery, MWFCC has among the highest survival rates and the lowest rate of post-operative complications. For premature babies requiring surgery, we have the lowest rate of surgical complications in the nation.
Facilities second to none, all in one location. We perform our fetal interventions and surgeries at The Mother Baby Center, which combines Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s fetal, labor and delivery services with Children’s neonatal program. No matter what level of care is needed, the best mom and baby experts are in one spot and available 24/7.
To contact the MWFCC, please call 855-MWFETAL (855-693-3825). To contact Pediatric Surgical Associates, please call 612-813-8000.
Orchiopexy
Orchiopexy is a surgical procedure to move testicles from the abdomen or groin into the scrotum. Before birth, the testicle moves from the pelvic area down into the scrotum. In some boys, this does not occur and it is called undescended testicles. This issue may require more than one operation depending on the position of the testes and any other associated problems. An Orchiopexy is usually done in early childhood. If undescended testicles are left too long, changes occur which can affect growth and function.
The physicians of Pediatric Surgical Associates perform this surgery more than any other pediatric surgical practice in the Midwest. If you would like to inquire about the services provided through Pediatric Surgical Associates, please give our office a call at (612) 813-8000.
Pediatric Surgical Associates Welcomes Amy Hou, MD!
Pediatric Surgical Associates is delighted to announce the addition of Amy Hou, MD to our growing pediatric urology team! Dr. Hou grew up in the borough of Queens in New York City. She obtained her undergraduate and medical degree through the Seven-Year Accelerated Medical Program at Boston University. Dr. Hou then moved west to Colorado for her urology residency and pediatric urology fellowship training at the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Hou has a strong background in endoscopic procedures . Dr. Hou enjoys all aspects of pediatric urology and has a special interest in neurogenic bladder and urinary reconstruction.
Bradley Linden, MD Joins Pediatric Surgical Associates!
Bradley Linden, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Pediatric Surgical Associates is pleased to announce the newest member of its surgical team, Dr. Bradley Linden! A native of Minneapolis, Dr. Linden’s Pediatric Surgery training was obtained at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He joined the Harvard Medical School faculty as Director of Minimally Invasive Pediatric Surgery and has been the primary IBD surgeon at Boston Children’s. Dr. Linden cares for pediatric patients with the full range of pediatric diagnoses, co-founded the Esophageal Atresia Treatment Program and, as a fully trained adult and adolescent weight loss surgeon, founded and directed the Bariatric Surgery Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
InterStim Therapy for Children
InterStim Therapy is a proven therapy used to treat urge incontinence, urinary frequency and overactive bladder in children. InterStim Therapy targets the communication problem between the brain and the nerves that control the bladder. If the nerves are not communicating properly, the bladder will not function correctly.
The InterStim system uses an external device during a trial assessment period and an internal device for long-term therapy. You and your Pediatric Urologist may decide to try InterStim Therapy by going through a trial assessment period. Based on the trial assessment, you and your Pediatric Urologist will determine the next step that is right for your child.
To learn more about this effective therapy, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates to schedule an appointment. We may be reached at 612-813-8000!
Office-Based Circumcisions
A circumcision is a procedure to surgically remove the foreskin from the penis. This is most often done shortly after birth. On infants less than 27 days old, circumcision can be done in the office. Several methods are used to minimize discomfort and calm your baby during the procedure. These may include LMX (a topical anesthetic cream), a marcaine / lidocaine injection, and a pacifier dipped in sweetened water.
The advantages of office-based circumcisions include greater convenience for the family, lower cost when compared to hospital-based circumcisions and access to surgeons who are specifically trained in this area.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about this important service, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates at 612-813-8000.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)
Pregnancy is one of the most meaningful events in a family’s life. For women carrying twins, however, potentially life-threatening complications can cast a dark cloud over an otherwise joyful time. One third of all identical twins are at risk for developing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition where the fetuses develop unbalanced circulation through shared placenta vasculature. Non identicle (fraternal) twins are not at risk for TTTS. Without treatment, survival is limited and mortality for both twins is as high as 90% in advanced TTTS.
Operative fetoscopy is the latest technological advance in maternal fetal surgery. During operative fetoscopy for TTTS, a laser fiber is used to coagulate the blood vessels which are inappropriately connecting the twins. The Midwest Fetal Care Center, the only center of its kind in the upper Midwest, has providers skilled in the field of operative fetoscopy for the treatment of TTTS.
Dr. Brad Feltis of Pediatric Surgical Associates, Ltd. is the Surgical Director of the Midwest Fetal Care Center and one of few pediatric surgeons skilled in the management of fetal anomalies and in utero procedures such as Fetoscopic laser ablation therapy.
To find out more information on the Midwest Fetal Care Center or for a referral to the center, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates at (612) 813-8000.
Understanding Your Child’s Incontinence
Jamie McAnelly, CPNP reviews six points related to the treatment of urinary incontinence. These topics include bladder function, bowels habits, behavior basics, the 5 C’s, bladder relaxation medications and maintaining a voiding journal.
To have your child evaluated for issues related to urinary incontinence, please give Pediatric Surgical Associates a call at (612) 813-8000.