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More than 60 million people in the United States suffer from a digestive disease. Many of these conditions can be difficult for adults to talk about, so imagine what it must be like for a child. The pediatric gastroenterology team at Ochsner Hospital for Children has the advanced education, experience and communication skills required to diagnose and treat your child. We know how to put kids at ease and on the road to recovery.
Why Ochsner Hospital for Children for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases?
Our dedicated team at Ochsner Hospital for Children includes two board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists, a nurse practitioner, a registered dietitian, a physical therapist specialized in pelvic floor dysfunction, a pediatric social worker and a specialized nursing staff. Every year, we treat more than 2,300 kids with gastrointestinal and liver diseases across the Gulf South.
For the third year in a row, Ochsner Hospital for Children has been ranked among the Top 50 Children’s Hospitals in the country for pediatric gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery specialties by U.S. News and World Report. Ochsner Hospital for Children is Louisiana's only ranked children's hospital.
What’s more, our liver transplant program has been ranked #1 in the nation for three consecutive years with outcomes that are consistently above national transplant benchmarks.
While many digestive disorders are minor and short-term, some are chronic and will require lifetime management. When your kids begin their treatment at Ochsner, they will experience a seamless transition to adult care.
Conditions We Treat:
- Abdominal pain
- Celiac disease
- Diarrhea
- Steatohepatitis (fatty liver)
- Neonatal cholestasis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Infliximab infusions for Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients
- Reflux and peptic ulcer disease
- Cyclic vomiting syndrome
- Viral hepatitis
- Abdominal migraines
- Constipation
- Pancreatitis
- Congenital causes of liver disease
- Pancreatitis
- Nutritional problems (including malnutrition, failure to thrive)
- Feeding difficulties (that may require supplemental tube feedings/ specialized formulas)
Procedures We Offer:
- Rectal suction biopsies
- Gastrostomy button care and replacements
- Placement and management of feeding tubes and intravenous nutrition
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
- Esophageal dilatation
- Esophageal and anorectal manometry
- Esophageal varices banding and sclerotherapy
- Therapeutic and diagnostic ERCP for pediatric patients
- Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Endoscopic polypectomy
- pH probe studies
- BRAVO pH studies
- Small bowel video capsule endoscopy
- Percutaneous liver biopsy
Our Services
Recurrent Abdominal Pain Clinic
Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) with no cause is defined as three or more episodes of abdominal pain in a three-month period. Studies show that RAP affects up to 30% of children between four and 12 years of age, and that 10% of the time no physical cause is found. Here at Ochsner Hospital for Children, we offer a specialized clinic for recurrent abdominal pain.
Nutritional Services
With the support of a special pediatric dietitian, we offer comprehensive nutritional inpatient and outpatient services. Ochsner’s Healthy Lifestyle Clinic can also assist by providing specialized medical and dietician services for kids. Please discuss these options with your physician.
Endoscopy Suite
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves passing a flexible tube into the body. To help put children and their families at ease, Ochsner Hospital for Children has a dedicated endoscopy suite equipped with full pediatric anesthesia coverage. We perform more than 1,000 pediatric procedures annually. When it comes to the safety of your child, experience matters.
Liver Transplant Program
Currently, Ochsner is the only hospital in the region to offer pediatric liver transplants. Our patients are managed by an internationally renowned group of physicians, including transplant surgeons and pediatric specialists.
Referrals Aren’t Necessary
Sometimes it’s hard to know when it’s time to call in a specialist. Many parents agonize over whether their child is experiencing just a run-of- the-mill tummy ache or something more. At Ochsner, we believe all concerns are valid. If you feel like your child’s symptoms are affecting quality of life – if they’re missing school, for instance – you’re not overreacting. Pick up the phone and make an appointment for a thorough examination by someone who knows what to look for and how to interact with children. We can get you in quickly and get the answers you need.
Keep in mind that pediatric gastroenterologists are available for appointments in New Orleans, Slidell, Covington, Raceland and Monroe. When you schedule your visit, make sure our team is aware of where you live so they can give you an appointment close to home.
