Paediatric Gastroenterology department at Yashoda Hospital

Our Paediatric Gastroenterology department at Yashoda Hospital specialises in providing comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for infants, children and adolescents with diseases of the liver, digestive tract and pancreas. Using many advanced skill-sets and multidisciplinary approach, our team delivers comprehensive treatment for complex abdominal operations.

At Yashoda hospital, we understand that children and adolescents are in the growing phase of life, so their body requirements and diseases are different from adults who require specialised medical care. Compared to the adults, children and toddler’s needs and treatment procedures vary, and thus they are treated in a specialised centre by a Paediatric Gastroenterologist.

In the paediatric age group, the Paediatric Gastroenterology department offers a complete service of diagnostic and endoscopic practice, such as liver transplantation. We use the advanced paediatric non-surgical/surgical endoscopic techniques and state-of-the-art facilities to manage disorders related to the Stomach, Colon, Liver, Intestines, Pancreas, and Nutrition.

Our gastroenterology team is fully dedicated to the patients and is committed to providing the best possible treatments.

What is a Paediatric Gastroenterologist?

Like Adults childrens too have gastroenterology problems like haematemesis (vomiting blood) GERD, Achalasia Cardia and Malena (Blood in stool). Paediatric gastroenterology is specialized doctors who deals with all problems related to gastroenterological problems in children and do endoscopy, colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy etc. We have specialised training and experienced doctors in pediatric gastroenterology who understand that liver, digestive, and nutritional problems in children are quite different from those seen in adults.

What Are The Medical Services Provided At Paediatric Gastroenterology And Hepatology Unit?

The department has top-end Paediatric Endoscopy services which include:

Upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a diagnostic & therapeutic procedure where the endoscope is inserted by the doctor through the mouth and inside the throat into the esophagus. This helps the doctor to look at the images of the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.

• Colonoscopy (Argon Laser Coagulation)

Similarly, the doctor passes the endoscope into the large intestine (colon) through the rectum to assess the areas of the intestine. Depending on the procedures called sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, the colon is examined. This helps the doctor in examining the entire colon and to treat all the abnormalities and also treat many diseases such as removal of polyps etc.

• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Our team of doctors also uses the special form of endoscopy procedures called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, which enables the doctor to examine the pictures of the gallbladder and related structures. We also use ERCP for stent placement and biopsies.

• Capsule Endoscopy

Our doctors perform capsule endoscopy, which is a method that involves the use of a miniature wireless camera that helps doctors to see inside your small intestine. The camera travels through your body and takes thousands of photos. These photos are then analysed to identify any abnormality in the child’s digestive tract.

• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

The endoscopic ultrasound is a technique that uses an endoscope that has an ultrasound attached to it to detect different types of diseases that are related to the pancreas, lymphatic nodes, and liver. We also use EUS for therapeutic intervention in the patient and also to perform FNAC and biopsy.

• Dilatation of Oesophageal/GI Stricture

Our highly trained professional with a specialised balloon (CRE) or bougie performs this procedure over a paediatric patient who has a pylorus (opening in the stomach), narrowed oesophagus, or any other part of the intestine.

• Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)

If a patient has trouble swallowing, then this procedure is the safest way to provide foods, liquids and medications directly.

• Oesophageal and Anorectal Manometry

If a patient has trouble swallowing, and constipation or faecal incontinence, then this procedure is performed by doctors to find the cause of GERD, by inserting a manometry probe in the oesophagus or in the rectum.

• 24 hrs. Oesophageal pH Monitoring And Impedance Study

A specially designed probe is inserted into the oesophagus and kept for a fixed time, to measure the pH or amount of acid that flows into the oesophagus from the stomach, during a 24-hour period. This procedure helps in identifying GERD or repeated aspiration.

What Are The Medical Conditions We Treat Under Paediatric Gastroenterology?

Some of the common and challenging disorders managed include:

• Diarrhoea, Chronic Abdominal Pain, Constipation and Vomiting
• Celiac Disease
• Other forms of Chronic Diarrhoea and Malabsorption
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding (Blood in vomit/ blood in stool)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Biliary atresia
• Cholestatic Jaundice
• Acute and Chronic Liver Disease including
  • Hepatitis B, C
  • Disorders requiring Liver Transplantation
• Neonatal Liver Disease
• Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
• Biliary Tract Disease including Gall Stones
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
• Short-bowel Syndrome
• Eosinophilic (allergic) esophagitis and gastroenteritis
• Specialised tube feeding which are caused due to complex nutritional problems
• Dilation of GI Stricture like
  • Oesophageal Strictures
  • Pyloric Stricture
• Removal of foreign body parts