Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
1. Major Target Diseases
Duodenal ulcer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic diarrhea, constipation, obesity, underweight, chronic abdominal pain, short bowel syndrome, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Wilson’s disease, glycogen disease, biliary tract obstruction, neonatal hepatitis, acute liver failure, fatty liver disease, type B and C hepatitis, cirrhosis, acute and chronic pancreatitis, gastrointestinal foreign body
2. Treatment and Research Field
The Pediatric Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center, which was first opened in Korea, carries out about 900 endoscopies per year. By introducing an anesthesia endoscope at the level of developed countries, children and adolescents can receive the endoscope safely and in complete sleep. We provide diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection, duodenal ulcer, chronic abdominal pain, infant diarrhea, and food allergies, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis increasing recently in children and adolescents, and optimal treatment according to the patient’s condition. In addition, patients with gastrointestinal foreign bodies, bleeding, or polyps receive endoscopic treatment safely and comfortably to remove foreign bodies and polyps.
Moreover, we diagnose diseases that include metabolic liver diseases such as neonatal cholestasis, chronic hepatitis B, C, Wilson’s disease, and glycogen disease, with cutting-edge tests that include genetic tests, and help maintain a healthy life through appropriate treatment. Patients with liver cirrhosis due to various causes, including obstruction of the biliary tract, are thoroughly managed before liver transplantation.
The Pediatric Gastrointestinal Center operates wards with the Department of Pediatric Surgery to provide organized cooperation for patients who need surgery and pediatric treatment after surgery. By establishing a pediatric nutrition support team consisting of medical staff, dietitians, pharmacists, and nurses for the first time in Korea, we support a variety of nutritional issues such as obesity, children who do not eat and grow well, eating disorders, nutritional deficiencies due to chronic diseases, and parenteral nutrition due to short bowel syndrome. We care for most patients on intravenous nutrition in Korea, and are in charge of nutrition consultation in children’s hospitals. In 2009, the Division of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Nutrition at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital played a pivotal role in domestic and international academic activities, such as holding the Asia-Pacific Pediatric Gastrointestinal Nutrition Society in Seoul and has published many research papers in international medical journals. In the future, we will play a continual leading role in the treatment and research of pediatric gastrointestinal patients and strive to resolve pediatric gastrointestinal diseases.