Since Johns Hopkins Medicine opened its ambulatory surgery center at Green Spring Station in 2019, the pediatric anesthesia division has made it possible for young patients to undergo a variety of procedures as outpatients.

“We’re definitely pushing the edges of what can be done for pediatric patients in the ambulatory setting,” says anesthesiologist Joanne Shay, director of the pediatric ambulatory anesthesia group within the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management. “The real strength of it is the pediatric anesthesia team, working closely with our pediatric surgeons to determine the right procedures, and how we can make them successful.”

Subspecialty board-certified pediatric anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists now participate in about 100 cases a month, assisting in procedures in general pediatric surgery, urology, otolaryngology, orthopaedics and gastroenterology, along with some plastic reconstructive or gynecological surgeries. They are skilled in offering anesthesia during laser surgeries for patients with burns, and they perform lumbar punctures for pediatric patients who have spinal muscular atrophy and come in for periodic intrathecal infusions of Spinraza, a lifesaving specialty medication.

“It has opened up a huge swath of opportunity for us in pediatric ambulatory care,” says anesthesiologist Samuel Vanderhoek.