Pediatric Neurosurgery Ward

In the field of medicine, if neurosurgery is hailed as the crown of surgery, then pediatric neurosurgery is the radiant pearl on that crown. Children are the future of a nation and the hope of a nation. Saving numerous afflicted children and bringing happiness and joy to countless families is the sacred mission of pediatric neurosurgeons.

Beijing Tiantan Hospital is one of the world's top three neurosurgery research centers and the largest clinical, research, and teaching base for neurosurgery in Asia. The pediatric neurosurgery department at Beijing Tiantan Hospital was personally founded by Academician Wang Zhongcheng, the pioneer of modern neurosurgery in China, and it was the first specialized pediatric neurosurgery ward in New China. After sixty years of struggle and the unremitting efforts of several generations, it has grown into the largest and most comprehensive pediatric neurosurgery diagnosis and treatment center in the country, enjoying worldwide reputation as a national team.

Currently, Professor Gong Jian serves as the head of the department and the leader in the field. The team consists of one doctoral supervisor, four master's supervisors, five chief physicians, two associate chief physicians, two attending physicians, three doctoral candidates, six master's candidates, two visiting physicians, and nearly forty medical staff. The department performs over a thousand pediatric neurosurgery operations annually, achieving overall treatment outcomes at an internationally advanced level.

Surgical treatment of pediatric intracranial tumors is the traditional strength of our department. The china’s first transcallosal-transcavum approach for resection of pineal region tumors, which has been in use for over twenty years, has solved a global challenge. The comprehensive treatment of pediatric intracranial germ cell tumors, including the widely adopted Tiantan Protocol, has saved numerous children and gained widespread recognition from peers at home and abroad. Delayed and staged surgical approaches for giant intracranial tumors in children, proven safe and effective over more than ten years of application, have minimized the surgical risks associated with these large tumors and have been widely promoted and applied in China. The surgical planning of cyst puncture-aspiration-excision for pediatric giant craniopharyngioma has significantly reduced disability, mortality, and recurrence rates, reaching an internationally advanced level. Personalized radiotherapy and chemotherapy protocols based on molecular pathology and surgical resection of medulloblastoma have placed the treatment level of medulloblastoma at the forefront of the world. The use of multimodal techniques for resecting functional zone gliomas has significantly increased the rate of complete tumor resection and reduced disability, yielding satisfactory treatment outcomes. Currently, Beijing Tiantan Hospital's pediatric neurosurgery department leads the nation and stands at the forefront of the world in terms of the number of surgical cases and treatment outcomes for common tumors such as gliomas, medulloblastomas, craniopharyngiomas, germ cell tumors, and pineal region tumors in children.

In addressing congenital diseases in children, we have taken the lead in performing neuroendoscopic surgery for arachnoid cysts and ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery under the guidance of neuroendoscopy. Computer 3D modeling is used to develop cranial remodeling plans for the treatment of early closure of cranial sutures in infants. The combination of 3D printing technology and electrophysiological monitoring is employed in the surgical treatment of tonsillar herniation deformities, meningocele, congenital spinal bifida, and meningeal protrusion, all of which have achieved excellent surgical outcomes, placing us at the forefront nationally.

Our department relies on the National Clinical Medical Center for Neurological Diseases, where a wide range of medical equipment with world-class standards is extensively used in perioperative care. These include 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging, intraoperative magnetic resonance-assisted surgical devices, hybrid angiography suites, multimodal neuro-navigation, intraoperative ultrasound, intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring, robotic-assisted positioning systems, neuroendoscopy systems, and molecular pathology detection systems. All of these technologies have reached the world's advanced level and represent an absolute leading position domestically.

Related departments involved in surgical care, such as pediatric neuroanesthesia, pediatric neurocritical care, pediatric nursing and neuropathology, neuroimaging, and neurophysiology, are all national teams in their respective fields, providing strong support and guarantee for pediatric cranial surgery.

Currently, our department has formed a close medical alliance with the National Center for Children's Health (Beijing Children's Hospital). This collaboration enables postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy for solid tumors such as optic pathway gliomas, choroid plexus tumors, medulloblastomas, and small cell malignancies. It also facilitates the adjustment of electrolytes and endocrine function after surgery for craniopharyngiomas, sellar region germ cell tumors, and optic pathway gliomas. Moreover, it establishes efficient consultation and referral channels for cognitive rehabilitation and training in memory, emotions, comprehension, and calculation functions after craniotomy in children. These measures ensure that postoperative patients receive high-quality rehabilitation training and supportive therapies.

As a national leading team in pediatric neurosurgery, our department has undertaken over ten research projects, including key projects from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation. As a designated standardized training base by the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Education, we train more than ten doctoral and master's students each year and contribute to the nurturing of over 30 pediatric neurosurgery specialists nationwide, making us the cradle of pediatric neurosurgery physicians in the country.

After sixty years of dedication and splendid achievements, we will remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission in mind. The entire medical staff of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Beijing Tiantan Hospital will continue to uphold a rigorous and pragmatic work style, constantly summarizing experiences and exploring innovations, and providing high-quality medical services to create a brighter future for our young patients.

Pediatric Neurosurgery WardIn the field of medicine, if neurosurgery is hailed as the crown of surgery, then pediatric neurosurgery is the radiant pearl on that crown. Children are the future of a nation and the hope of a nation. Saving numerous afflicted children and bringing happiness and joy to countless families is the sacred mission of pediatric neurosurgeons. Beijing Tiantan Hospital is one …