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The SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona is one of the busiest pediatric surgical oncology facilities in Europe, with over 400 operations each year.
The surgical team—from both the Surgery and Oncology departments—has over a decade’s worth of experience in complex surgeries, and aims to improve survival rates and quality of life for children with various types of cancer.
Why the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital?
The SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona is one of the largest facilities in Europe that specialises in both pediatric oncology and pediatric surgery. This unique approach means that, whether in the operating theatre, carrying out treatments or following healthcare pathways, or whether for inpatient treatment or in the emergency department, the centre has its crosshairs pointed directly at the needs of the child or teenager with cancer.
The SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital uses the most sophisticated diagnostic imaging techniques available, including CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative hybrid arc, all installed in the surgical wing.
Advanced technological equipment
Operating theatres involve multidisciplinary coordination so that several procedures can be carried out during the single sedation of a patient (surgery, interventionist radiology, initial sample processing, etc.).
The aim is to offer rapid, patient-centred care to provide personalised treatment as early as possible, using targeted therapies that improve results and minimise secondary effects.
Some procedures can be done in the two dedicated operating theatres in the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center. This means a significant portion of required procedures can be carried out there, thereby reducing both the number of times a patient requires anesthesia and also the need to transfer patients from the main hospital building.
The Surgical Oncology Unit works in close collaboration with the 3D Planning Unit (3D4H) in the planning and simulation of surgical operations, particularly in complex cases, with the aim of carrying out larger procedures more safely.
3D surgical planning
The Surgical Oncology Unit works in close collaboration with the 3D Planning Unit (3D4H) in the planning and simulation of surgical operations, particularly in complex cases, with the aim of carrying out larger procedures more safely.
Our centre is a pioneer in applying these technologies: both when preparing for surgical interventions and for staff training and development. 3D surgical planning allows operations to be more precise, reducing the number of adverse effects that may occur during the procedure and minimising the risk of later complications. The result is improved quality of life for the patient, while simultaneously reducing time and money spent.
Our facility has the Child Life team on hand to help prepare patients before certain interventions, whenever they are in need of support.
Pre- and post-surgical care
Our facility has the Child Life team on hand to help prepare patients before certain interventions, whenever they are in need of support.
Children or teenagers are with their families most of the time, including before operations and waking up afterwards. A team of highly specialised pediatric intensive care staff is based just next to the operating theatres, facilitating transfer of patients. This team offers post-surgical care in even the most complex of cases. The hospitalisation ward at the SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona is also designed and laid out to fit the needs and characteristics of its patients.
Staff members work on a translational model alongside Oncology and Research staff, with the aim of securing treatments for patients as soon as possible.
Collective experience
Staff members work on a translational model alongside Oncology and Research staff, with the aim of securing treatments for patients as soon as possible.
The team at the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Unit takes part in multidisciplinary consultations with all staff members involved in a patient's care, keeping both the patient and the family’s circumstances in mind at all times. This team is accustomed to dealing with complex cases and treating international patients in a wide range of situations.
The team works alongside the various departments: General Surgery, Oncology and Pediatric Hematology, Diagnostic Imaging, the 3D Planning Unit, Nuclear Medicine, Neurophysiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Gynecology and the Neurofibromatosis Unit, among others.
Annual performance indicators
Procedures performed
High-risk neuroblastoma surgeries per year
Ovarian tissue preservation surgeries
Port-a-cath
MIBG-guided surgeries in neuroblastoma
Annual lung metastasis surgeries
Team
The SJD team boasts extensive collective experience, working hand in hand with other healthcare facilities, as well as with other hospital specialists in Oncology, Traumatology and Orthopedics, and General Surgery. This cross-departmental cooperation means each patient receives the best care possible. In addition, several surgeons working in the unit are members of and/or hold leading positions in the main international scientific societies in the field (IPSO, EBPS, EUPSA).
The Surgical Oncology specialist team
Research
Using virtual reality to plan complex neuroblastoma operations
This is a multicentre, international, translational investigation led by the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital (PI Lucas Krauel) into the applications of 3D technology in surgical oncology, particularly in cases of neuroblastoma relapse. International reference centres are taking part in this prospective randomised investigation, currently in progress.
Research group on pediatric cancer and innovation
The Surgical Oncology team collaborates with the various lines of pediatric cancer research with a clear view to translational investigation. In the field of innovation, Dr Krauel is a member of the hospital team working on finding new technological solutions and creating new medical devices that can be applied in the pediatric field.
3DSurgHELP project on surgical simulation
The aim here is to develop surgery simulators for high-complexity oncological diseases to help improve operation success rates. This competitive project is sponsored by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).
Teaching
The SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital is a university hospital affiliated with the University of Barcelona. We share our knowledge and train professionals so that they can go on to specialise in high-complexity medicine.
Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in Pediatric Surgical Oncology (2023-2025)
Staff working in the Surgery Oncology Unit help train students on the Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in Pediatric Surgical Oncology at the University of Barcelona.
- Duration: 2 academic years
- Directed by: Dr Lucas Krauel Gimenez-Salinas
- Degree awarded: Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree
- Accreditation: 90 ECTS credits
Degree in Medicine from the University of Barcelona
As part of our affiliation with the University of Barcelona, we are involved in these university studies to help train future healthcare professionals.
Pediatric Surgery residency
As a university hospital, the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital allows residents who wish to specialise in pediatric surgery to do so via a specific rotation in our specialism of surgical oncology. Find out about all the benefits of doing a residency here.
Placement for international professionals
Specialists from abroad who are interested in pediatric surgery can also carry out a placement in our unit. Remember that requests for these training placements should have received prior authorisation from the Ministry of Health.