History of Pediatric Surgery in Spain

During the 19th century, Spanish children represented one of the most vulnerable population groups in Europe. Pediatric surgery and children care both showed an improvement at an international level. This article aims to summarize the most relevant events in the history of pediatric surgery in Spain. José Ribera y Sans is considered as the father of the specialty in Spain, as well as a group of pioneer surgeons who, mainly in Madrid and Barcelona, created a pediatric surgical concept throughout Spain. Important milestones in Spain are described, such as the first Ramstedt pyloromyotomy or the first successful esophageal atresia repair. We discuss the effects of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) on the development of pediatric surgery and particularly, the case of a pediatric surgeon who was judged after the war. Finally, the foundation of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Surgery and the membership of the first Spanish female pediatric surgeons such as Dr. Guadalupe Pérez-Lafuente is reviewed.