Telemedicine in pediatric surgery

Telemedicine is a new academic specialty at the crossroads of medical infor matics whose potential is still largely untapped by pediatric surgeons. Tel emedicine aims to alleviate travel concerns associated with the delivery of health care, to bring expert pediatric surgeons to areas where currently n one exist, and to improve coordination between pediatric surgeons, transcen ding all barriers. Today, it is possible to transmit all digitized data - r oentgenograms, echocardiograms, radiologic images, intraoperative photograp hs, histologic images, etc., and to consult specific experts in the subspec ialties of childcare. It is possible to train and guide surgical trainees b y experts without their physical presence. In the future, telemedicine will constitute an integral part of the health care of children and the trainin g of pediatric surgeons.