Services Offered

The Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition provides diagnostic, treatment, and support services for pediatric patients with feeding, gastrointestinal, and liver problems.

Diagnostic Services

We offer a full array of diagnostic tests, including state-of-the-art screenings that are not commonly available at other medical centers. Some of the tests available include:

• Breath 13C-urea testing to diagnose H. pylori gastritis
• Breath hydrogen testing to detect carbohydrate intolerance
• 24-hour pH monitoring to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux
• Less invasive, state-of-the-art endoscopy services for children of all ages
• Pancreatic and biliary tract studies
• Advanced techniques for sampling tissues in the esophagus, pancreas, stomach, and rectum--including endoscopic ultrasound and interventional endoscopy

Innovative Therapies

In cooperation with the Section of Pediatric Surgery, we offer a broad range of treatments to manage acute and long-term feeding and digestive problems. These therapies include:

• The latest medications for digestive problems, including novel treatments that are not available to the general public
• Therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement
• Colonscopy to remove polyps
• Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices, a treatment for bleeding in the esophagus
• Interventional radiologic procedures
• Minimally invasive surgery to correct gastroesophageal reflux disease, pyloric stenosis, and other anatomical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract

Liver Transplantation

Some liver disorders--such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and neonatal hemochromatosis--can be successfully treated with a liver transplant. Our team works hand-in-hand with pediatric transplant surgeons and other experts to provide the best care before, during and after liver transplantation.

The University of Chicago Medical Center is a leader in transplant surgery for children and adults. In fact, the first successful U.S. living-donor liver transplant (in which a mother donated a portion of her healthy liver to her daughter) was performed here. »Learn more about our pediatric liver transplant program

Support

We offer nutrition counseling, including outpatient parenteral nutrition support and parent education.

In addition, our Celiac Disease Center offers a comprehensive support for patients with gluten intolerance and their families. We also publish a newsletter, manage a hotline, conduct free screenings, and host regular events dedicated to patients with celiac disease and their families.