MD, PhD Katarzyna Bałaż

I gained my knowledge and experience in paediatric surgery at the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Organ Transplantation of the “Memorial – Children’s Health Centre” Institute in Warsaw.

I have participated in numerous advanced training courses and scientific congresses in Poland and abroad.

I see children of all ages (from the neonatal period up to 18 years old).

In my daily work, it is very important for me to organise peri-operative care so that the stress associated with surgery is reduced to a minimum and the patient’s return home is as rapid as possible – including through the application of the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol.

Examples of operations performed as one-day surgery:

• Inguinal hernia repair
• Umbilical hernia repair
• Linea alba hernia repair
• Repair of testicular hydrocele and spermatic cord hydrocele
• Cryptorchidism surgery – orchidopexy
• Phimosis surgery – foreskin repair, circumcision
• Repair of a short foreskin frenulum
• Repair of a short tongue frenulum (under general anaesthesia only)
• Removal of skin lesions (e.g. moles, nodules, haemangiomas)
• Removal of preauricular skin tags

Education

• 2005 – Medical University of Warsaw; 2nd Faculty of Medicine
• 2014 – specialist qualification in paediatric surgery
• 2020 – awarded a doctorate in medical sciences

Professional experience

1. Since 2022 – paediatric surgeon at Carolina Hospital
2. 2021–2023 – head of the Outpatient Surgery Centre (“Memorial – Children’s Health Centre” Institute)
3. 2016–2021 and 2012–2014 – physician at the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Organ Transplantation (“Memorial – Children’s Health Centre” Institute)
4. 2014–2016 – physician at the Department of Paediatric Urology (“Memorial – Children’s Health Centre” Institute)
5. 2006–2012 – physician at the Department of Surgery (Hospital in Dziekanów Leśny)

Areas of interest

Sailing (sailing instructor), windsurfing, rowing

Selected scientific presentations as author or co-author:

• Congresses of the Polish Association of Paediatric Surgeons:
  • 2013 – Severe blunt abdominal injuries in children – IP-CZD case material from spring–summer 2013
  • 2014 – The impact of prenatal steroids on treatment outcomes in newborns with congenital gastroschisis
  • 2014 – Thoracoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernias in children
  • 2019 – Analgesic management in children after surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis.
  • 2019 – Renal autotransplantation in the treatment of renovascular hypertension in children with isolated renal artery stenosis
• 2015 – 26th Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Urology – Delayed versus early exstrophy closure – analysis of complication rate
• 2016 – Advances in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery – Pancreatoduodenectomy in children – IP-CZD case material
• Trainer on laparoscopic courses (medical simulators)

Author and co-author of publications:

1. Diagnostic and therapeutic management in children operated on for meconium ileus, based on own case material (2014)
2. Extensive abdominal vascular tumour (Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma) complicated by Kasabach–Merritt syndrome and multi-organ failure – case report (2015)
3. Perianal abscess and fistula-in-ano in children – evaluation of treatment efficacy. Is it possible to avoid recurrence? (2020)
4. Evaluation of renal autotransplantation as a surgical method for the treatment of renovascular hypertension in children with isolated renal artery stenosis (doctoral dissertation in medical sciences; 2021)

Membership in Scientific Societies

Member of the Polish Association of Paediatric Surgeons