Gastroenterology

Caring for more than 600 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and indeterminate colitis), this program offers a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and managing children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel diseases. The team involves a pediatric gastroenterologist, a dietician, an IBD nurse and a social worker. The team also includes pediatric surgeons, pathologists with expertise in diagnosing IBD and pediatric radiologists experienced in evaluating IBD. The team members also work closely with colleagues in the Divisions of Rheumatology, Hematology, Immunology, Genetics and Dermatology to manage IBD patients.

The IBD transition program helps prepare teenagers and young adults with IBD to become independent, and eventually transition them from a pediatric to an adult gastroenterologist in a smooth and successful manner.

The program has ongoing clinical research studies including active clinical trials and is a participating site for the DEVELOP Registry for Pediatric IBD patients.

The Pediatric Liver Disease and Liver Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital of Michigan provides a continuum of care for children and teens with liver disease. From expert evaluation and medical management of liver disease such as elevated liver enzymes, autoimmune hepatitis and viral hepatitis and congenital liver disease and biliary atresia and neonatal cholestasis all the way to performing living-donor and deceased-donor liver transplantation.

The physicians in the program are board certified in pediatric liver transplant and hepatology as well as pediatric gastroenterology with extensive experience in childhood liver disease and liver transplant with excellent support from nurse practitioners a clinical coordinator, dietitians, social workers and psychologists. The pediatric liver disease and liver transplant program is the only one of it's kind in metropolitan Detroit.

Liver diseases patients can be seen at two locations: Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Midtown Detroit and Children's Hospital of Michigan - Troy.

When both endoscopy and colonoscopies fail to find the source of the GI-related concern, Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Gastroenterology Department offers capsule endoscopy to diagnose conditions that are difficult to detect. It is a simple process in which the patient swallows a capsule that contains a tiny camera which takes images as it passes along the gastrointestinal tract. The collected images are then transferred wirelessly to an external receiver worn by the patient. After a few hours, the images are transferred to a computer for review and interpretation.

A pediatric gastroenterologist might recommend a capsule endoscopy procedure to:

• Determine the cause of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Evaluate patients with suspected Crohn’s disease
• Diagnose small bowel tumors.
• Screen for polyps.
• Evaluate chronic abdominal pain of unknown etiology.

Children’s Hospital Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic (CHIRP) provides multidisciplinary care to children on parenteral support. Infants and children on IV nutrition or home TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) often require the care of pediatric specialists across a variety of disciplines. This specialized clinic currently provides care to more than 60 children, including 30 on home TPN.

The clinic provides integrated, multidisciplinary care from a pediatric surgeon, gastroenterologist, pharmacist, dietitian, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist and nurse practitioner.

The Pediatric Aerodigestive Clinic (PAC) at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan sees children with a variety of airway, breathing and swallowing disorders, sleep apnea and related problems such as malnutrition and gastroesophageal reflux. The clinic is a multidisciplinary program held twice a month at the Children's Hospital of Michigan ENT Clinic.

Pediatric specialists will meet with the child and their family so that a complete evaluation is performed. Clinicians may include pediatric specialists from the Divisions of Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology), Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Craniofacial and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sleep Medicine, Speech Therapy, and Pediatric Surgery. Patients may require in office or operative procedures to determine an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan.

As a team, pediatric specialists will look at all of the child's current medications and treatments and develop a plan to minimize the number and extent of procedures required. The treatment plan may include changing the child's feeding regimen, adjusting medications, adding additional home therapies as well as surgical options. Each plan is tailored to the individual child and family.

For further information on the Pediatric Aerodigestive Clinic or to set up an appointment call (313) 745-9126 or email Xhoana Kociaj, NP.

The Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan is a multidisciplinary clinic with the Division of Gastroenterology, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Pediatric Pathology and a certified dietitian. The disease is characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus and symptoms of difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and/or failure to thrive.

This Clinic allows the patient to see multiple specialists in a single visit who can efficiently collaborate to form a care plan that encompasses all aspects of this complex disease.