Paediatrics

Paediatric cardiology / cardiothoracic services

• A dedicated paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery programme was started in 2007. Since then, our hospital has performed more than 3000 transcatheter interventions and more than 2500 open cardiac surgeries in children and adults with congenital heart diseases. Our average paediatric cardiology OPD is 275 cases per month. Our hospital is equipped to perform transcatheter interventions and open heart surgeries in all ages, ranging from day one children to adults.
• We perform balloon aortic, pulmonary, and mitral valvotomy in all children, including newborns, and we also do device closure for ASD, VSD, and PDA regularly. Apart from the interventions for those common ailments, we do balloon dilatation and stenting of the coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis, and device closure of uncommon ailments such as aortopulmonary window, device or coil closure of fistulas such as coronary AV fistula, pulmonary AV fistula, aortopulmonary collaterals, and other rare fistulas.
• We have a structured fetal echocardiogram program to identify congenital heart diseases antenatally and follow those children till birth. Our neonatal intensive care unit is well equipped to deal with those cardiac cases, including maintaining the ductus arteriosus with prostaglandins and performing emergency bedside atrial septostomy until such children are ready for definitive procedures.
• Our hospital has regular academic sessions for postgraduates, nurses, and other paramedical staff as a part of our continuous medical education programme. We publish papers in indexed journals regularly. One of the landmark papers published in the Paediatric Cardiology journal was the device closure of VSD using a muscular VSD device through retrograde technique. Our center is the first to start doing device closure of subpulmonic VSD in the world.

Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetology

The department houses the largest Paediatric Endocrinology service in Coimbatore, started by Prof. Raghupathy from CMC Vellore and now run by Dr. Ahila Ayyavoo. The neonatal screening program for hypothyroidism was started on January 1, 2006. Special awareness camps for type I diabetes mellitus patients, obese children, and also for children with disorders of Sexual Differentiation are held regularly.

Paediatric Pulmonology

We offer the following comprehensive diagnostic and treatment facilities:

• Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Diagnostics, 1st Center in South India
• Cystic fibrosis diagnostics, including sweat testing
• Paediatric flexible bronchoscopy
• Primary immune deficiency and rare lung disease evaluation
• Allergic testing, including the skin prick test
• Lung function testing for children

Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Paediatric Infectious Diseases is an emerging yet important subspecialty of Paediatrics with a major focus on prompt diagnosis and optimal management of common and uncommon childhood infections, both on an outpatient and inpatient basis, with appropriate and timely antibiotic usage.

It deals with the diagnosis and management of

• Tropical infections, including Dengue, Typhoid, Rickettsial infections, and malaria
• Common respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary infections
• Chronic infections, including tuberculosis, HIV, and other uncommon infections
• Congenital infections
• Pyrexia of unknown origin
• Health care associated infections
• Chemotherapy/Febrile Neutropenia-Related Infections
• Transplant associated infections (Bone marrow or solid organ transplants)
• Infections in children with inborn errors of immunity
• Vaccination in special situations

Advanced Infectious Disease Diagnostic Services

Our state-of-the-art laboratory services provide timely, accurate diagnostic support with rapid turnaround times and robust quality control systems. In addition to conventional cultures and serological tests, the following advanced diagnostic facilities are available:

• Automated blood cultures – BD FX 200
• Automated organism identification & MIC – VITEK® 2
• Multiplex PCR panels – BioFire®
• Xpert MTB/RIF
• Automated TB culture – MGIT™ 320
• TB first-line drug susceptibility testing
• Quantitative viral load testing – HIV, HBV, HCV
• Clostridioides difficile toxin assay
• Carba-R (carbapenem resistance gene detection)
• Aspergillus galactomannan (Blood & BAL)
• Cryptococcal antigen testing
• Histopathology-supported biopsy diagnosis of infections

Paediatric Neurology

Manned by two well-known neurologists. We offer both outpatient and inpatient care for children with acute and chronic neurological problems. There is also a special neurodevelopmental clinic for ex-NICU children and children with special needs. A multidisciplinary team includes a speech therapist and a physiotherapist.

Paediatric Gastroenterology

• Got trained in the super specialty from hospitals in London and Manchester in the UK.
• Has expertise in managing

1. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, cow's milk protein allergy, and other food allergies
2. Management of recurrent abdominal pain and functional gastrointestinal disorders
3. Investigation and treatment of chronic diarrhea and PR bleeding
4. Work up of childhood liver disease and prolonged neonatal jaundice
5. Treatment of Pancreatitis
6. Performing upper Gl endoscopy, variceal banding, sclerotherapy, gastrostomy feeding tube, colonoscopy, and polypectomy

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The Neonatal intensive care unit at our hospital in Coimbatore is a 20 beds state-of-art facility dedicated to the care of critically ill and premature newborns supported by high risk perinatal unit. Our Level III NICU offers the highest level of care available for neonates, equipped with advanced technology and supported by a multidisciplinary team of highly trained professionals

Our NICU is staffed round the clock by Consultant Neonatologists, Neonatal fellows, pediatric residents, lactation counsellor, neonatal nurses, respiratory therapists and allied health professionals, ensuring expert care and close monitoring at every step.

 We are equipped to manage a wide range of complex neonatal conditions including extreme prematurity (<28 weeks), Extremely low birth weight (<1000 g), congenital anomalies, postoperative care of complex surgical cases, complex cyanotic heart diseases, and neonatal sepsis aligning with International NICU care standards. 

Key features include: 

• CPAP and HFNC 
• Invasive mechanical ventilation including High frequency ventilation 
• Inhaled Nitric Oxide 
• Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and advanced nutritional support
•  Point-of-care ultrasound, functional echocardiography and EEG monitoring
• In house blood gas analysis, microbiology and radiology support. 
• Neonatal transport services to transport sick ventilated new born by a team of trained professionals.

We have excellent survival rates for heart disease and extremely pre mature neonates, new born screening program and neuro developmental follow up, in-built quality program. We also have a strong emphasis on family centered care, encouraging parental involvement, breastfeeding support, and kangaroo mother care. Our mission is to ensure the best possible start to life for every newborn entrusted to our care, combining compassion, clinical excellence and cutting-edge innovation. 

Facilities Available:

Equipment Availability

• Ventilators - 6
• Monitor - 13
• Syringe pump - 20
• Infusion pump - 21
• Photo therapy - 21
• Incubators - 8
• Radiant warmer - 17
• Central venous pressure stand - 1
• Weighing Machine (New Born) - 2
• O2 Flow meter - 24
• O2 hood - 18
• Nasal CPAP machine - 3
• Air O2 Machine - 2
• Suction apparatus - 25
• Fogging machine - 1
• Nebuliser - 4
• Neopuff - 1
• Breast pump - 1
• Nitric oxide machine - 1
• Gulcometer - 2
• Portable x -ray machine - 1

Scope of Services(Level I - Level III, Isolation Room):

• Neonatal resuscitation
• Postnatal care to stable newborn infant.
• Comprehensive care of new born gestation < 34 weeks / birthweight < 2 kg
• Full range of respiratory support
• Surgical repair of congenital / acquired conditions
• Post surgical care
• Management of babies with complex congenital heart diseases needing intervention / surgery
• Management of sepsis
• Management of hyperbilirubinemia / IEM / Endocrine problems
• Routine newborn screening for thyroid, hearing disorders
• ROP screening for all preterm
• Isolation facilities for neonates with infections
• Breast feeding promotions
• Counselling
• Immunisation of newborn infant
• Retrieval of neonate from nearly < 60 km radius referring hospital.

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

The PICU, which is 10 beds, is equipped with ventilators, multiparameter monitors, dialysis, infusion pumps, and syringe pumps to handle sick children with life threatening infections, neurological emergencies, hemato-oncological emergencies, respiratory emergencies, trauma, postoperative care, etc.

The PICU is equipped with facilities to provide procedural sedation for invasive procedures like lumbar puncture, intrathecal chemotherapy, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, intercostal drainage, peritoneal dialysis catheter placement, central line and dialysis catheter placement, etc. ECMO facilities can be offered to patients with referral and support from the paediatric cardiothoracic team. The PICU is manned by paediatric intensivists and well trained PICU nurses, and the team offers round-the-clock service.

Developmental Paediatrics

Our Child Development Clinic offers structured developmental screenings, detailed clinical and functional assessments, and appropriate medical investigations, with emphasis on early diagnosis and management of associated comorbidities. Interventions are delivered through a family-centred, multidisciplinary model involving developmental psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, special educators, and social workers to ensure individualised, evidence-based care.

Parent-mediated intervention is a core component of care, with structured caregiver training to support therapy continuation in the home environment. Beyond diagnosis, we emphasise functional profiling, early intervention planning, school readiness, environmental supports, and long-term developmental trajectories. Specialised services are also provided for children with genetic syndromes, including Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Williams syndrome, with coordinated genetic evaluation and counselling.

At the heart of our department is a child-centred philosophy: every child deserves to thrive without limits. Together, we strive to build an inclusive society that empowers every child to thrive at their own pace and achieve their full potential.

Key Clinical Services:

• Comprehensive developmental and behavioural evaluation and management of children with global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, speech and language disorders, sensory impairments, intellectual disability, and genetic syndromes
• Dedicated high-risk infant and NICU follow-up clinics to ensure early detection of developmental concerns and prompt intervention
• Antenatal strategies aimed at early risk identification and promotion of typical developmental trajectories

In India an estimated 70,000 children develop cancer each year. Childhood Cancer is a catastrophic disease, but with treatment and adequate supportive care,more than 85% of children achieve complete cure and resume schooling.

Conditions we treat

• Pediatric Oncology
• Leukemias and Lymphomas
• Pediatric Brain tumors and other solid tumors
• Benign Hematology:
• Nutritional ,hemolytic anemias
• Hemoglobinopathies(Thalassemia,Sickle cell disease,Hereditary spherocytosis)
• Bone marrow failure
• Bleeding diathesis(Hemophilias), Platelet disorders(ITP,Platelet dysfunction disorders)
• Coagulation disorders
• Primary immunodeficiency

Established in 1957, Valavadi Narayanasamy Cancer Center, the Oncology Department of GKNM Hospital has been one of the forerunners of Cancer Healthcare in South India.

On an average around 100 children are being treated for cancer every year and a dedicated pediatric oncology team is treating children. The overall cure rate for childhood cancer is 85% which is at par with International standards. We partner with National Cancer Grid Virtual Tumor Board for optimal care.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

Our center also has a dedicated four bedded Bone marrow transplant unit which is one of the few centers in India performing complicated bone marrow transplants like haploidentical bone marrow transplants. Advanced techniques like T cell depletion is used for half matched transplants. Our center has crossed 100 bone marrow transplants including 40 pediatric transplants since inception. 

World’s first bone marrow transplantation for a rare immunodeficiency (MALT1 deficiency) was performed using T cell depletion. Disease cured under bone marrow transplantation includes hemoglobinopathies (Thalassemia, Sickle cell anemia), bone marrow failure, metabolic disorders (like mucopolysaccharidoses), leukemia, lymphoma and immunodeficiency. The success rates are over 90% and the transplant related mortality is less than 2%.

We partner with Non-Governmental Organizations and Corporate Social responsibility funds for providing Home away from home stay and financial support for financially backward parents. CMCHIS also can be utilized for eligible children needing BMT. We have treated two tribal children hailing from Gudalur with leukemia with their disease taken to remission. Provision of chemotherapy - procured at subsidy or free of cost from NGO (Cankids India)

Involving a multidiscipliniary team, we provide comprehensive care to all kids with cancer and blood disorders. Our motto is "No child should die in the dawn of life".