History of children’s neurosurgery in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Children's neurosurgery in Mar del Plata began at the Hospital Interzonal Especializado Materno Infantil (HIEMI) “Don Victorio Tetamanti” in 1977. Originally called “Hospital de Mar del Plata” and founded in 1903, it was incorporated into the Regionalization Law of the Province of Buenos Aires. In its early years, neurosurgery was centered at the Hospital Regional (actual Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos “Dr. Oscar Alende”) and attracted prominent neurosurgeons. In the 1980s, a specific team for children's neurosurgery was formed, and the pediatric intensive care unit was developed in 1982. A CT scanner was added in the 1990s, and since 2000 there has been a residency program. Currently, the children's neurosurgery room performs around 130 surgeries annually, covering 24-hour on-call, with a specialized focus that includes neuroendoscopy, vascular surgery, spine, and oncology.