When it comes to surgery, babies present a unique challenge because of their small size and complex conditions. Their health can change in an instant, requiring quick action and expertise. No other hospital in the region is prepared to meet this challenge like CHOC. We proudly offer the only Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the West Coast, providing highly specialized care for babies who need surgery.

The Surgical NICU brings every member of the care team together to follow a coordinated plan for babies, and provide a seamless experience for families. This coordinated effort is backed by national-level research and quality improvement efforts, all of which has led to better patient outcomes.

Some conditions that require surgery may be identified before your baby is born. OB/GYN specialists or perinatologists who identify a problem may make a referral to our Surgical NICU team. We will meet one-on-one with your family, along with our top specialists, to review your baby’s condition and plan for a surgery that will take place after your baby is born. For prenatal consultations, please call 714-364-4050.

CHOC also has a specialized Transport Team to transfer babies from other hospitals if needed. To consult with our team or schedule a transport, referring hospitals may call the CHOC NICU at 714-509-8540.

Dr. Irfan Ahmad is the medical director of the Surgical NICU and is board certified in neonatology. He has expertise in diagnosing and treating various medical and surgical conditions in premature and mature babies. He has been with CHOC for seven years and also serves as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics with academic appointment at UC Irvine Health. Dr. Ahmad emphasizes the importance of having a unit dedicated to surgical care for babies because of their unique needs and challenges. The unit also provides a foundation for staff to refine the most proven techniques in caring for babies, rather than using techniques meant for older children. “I am dedicated to providing the very best evidence-based care by effective team-building, communication, education and most of all, care and compassion for babies and their families.” Learn more about Dr. Ahmad.

Dr. Mustafa Kabeer is the surgical director of the Surgical NICU. “My role is to contribute surgical and critical care expertise from a surgical perspective. This provides insight into the nuances of surgical procedures not fully realized and appreciated by non-surgeons. This, combined with the medical management expertise from neonatology, yields a unique blend that allows for total care of these babies at a level surpassing the ability of any single service to be able to provide,” he says. Dr. Kabeer has fellowship training in pediatric surgery as well as pediatric surgical critical care combined with experience working as a neonatal hospitalist, all driving his philosophy to work on collaborative relationships that greatly benefits patients. “I am passionate because this type of program exists for adults and has done so for over half a century. It has been proven to improve communication and provide better care and outcomes for critically ill adults. Yet, it is still a novel idea for neonates and premature babies even though they tend to have the most significant physiological changes and are the most fragile and susceptible. We need to be committed to providing our sickest and smallest babies with the best coordinated care we can provide.” Learn more about Dr. Kabeer.

Little Alicia was born at full term, beautiful with 10 fingers, 10 toes and a life-threatening defect buried inside her tiny chest. Alicia had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a condition wherein a hole in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move into the chest. And this case was especially serious.