Introduction

Abstract

The easiest answer to this question is the semantic interpretation of the words pediatric and surgery, meaning surgery on a child. Is pediatric surgery, however, the transposition of surgical procedures to a smaller human being? The main difference between an adult and a child is the fact that the child is growing and throughout the time between its birth and entrance to adulthood - about 18 years - this child never stays the same. Considering this fact, the surgical procedure in pediatric surgery has to be adapted to the child's age, something with which an adult surgeon is not confronted. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.