AMC Children's Hospital Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is responsible for treatments of gastrointestinal diseases and nutritional problems in children.

Diseases treated include: gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, liver diseases, liver failure, pancreas diseases, obesity, and growth disorder.

Gastrointestinal Diseases

The Division provides diagnosis and treatment for various diseases in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. Our pediatric endoscopy specialists perform endoscopic procedures on children, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic foreign body removal and polypectomy. We also provide treatment for diseases in the digestive system, including gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, infectious intestinal diseases, and acute and chronic diarrhea. As well as endoscopy, we provide tests including 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, radiography of the esophagus, upper gastrointestinal series, small intestine, and colon. In addition, a new method of wireless capsule endoscopy is used to verify the lesions in the small intestine. We cooperate efficiently with pediatric surgeons if necessary.

Abdominal pain and Constipation

Chronic abdominal pain in children can result from various causes, and thus requires accurate diagnosis. A Doctor's examination, a blood test, an abdominal ultrasound, and an endoscopy are used to determine the cause and establish a proper treatment plan. For children with constipation, the doctor checks for any accompanying underlying diseases and uses anorectal manometry and defecography to evaluate bowl movement function. Biofeedback and toilet training are used as treatments.

Liver Diseases

The Division provides diagnosis and treatment for various liver diseases in infants and children, including infant jaundice and neonatal cholestasis, neonatal hepatitis, bile duct obstruction, choledochal cyst, viral hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, and fatty liver. Unlike those in adults, liver diseases in children are symptoms of many different causes and accompany metabolism disorders specific to children. This is why the role of a pediatric gastroenterology and/or a hepatology and nutrition specialist is important in treating these diseases. We also consult with pediatric radiologists to administer an abdominal ultrasound test, CT, and MRI for accurate diagnosis, and work with pediatric surgeons if surgical procedures are necessary.

Liver Transplantation for Children

For children with liver failure resulting from liver cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure, liver transplantation is often the only treatment. Since 1994, AMC has performed 150 pediatric liver transplantations with outstanding results. Consisting of pediatricians, general surgeons, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric radiologist, AMC pediatric liver transplantation team provides an efficient system of surgery and post-operative patient care, delivering successful liver transplantations for children.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

The Division provides diagnosis and treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are diseases of growing concern in children nowadays in Korea. Causes for these chronic relapsing diseases are yet to be determined and no complete cure is available. Although found in an increasing number of children, the problems specific to children are often neglected in the treatment.

AMC Children's Hospital has pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition specialists providing optimum treatment for children with inflammatory bowel disease based on comprehensive and accurate diagnosis that considers the patient's growth, nutrition, and long-term prognosis. We also assess any possible accompanying problems such as malnutrition and growth delay and offer proper treatment programs to improve the patient's overall health. Especially for Crohn's disease, we have adopted a new method of nutrition therapy with no side effects. We also consult with pediatric surgeons in surgical procedures for possible progressive symptoms, including intestinal stenosis, anal abscess, and anal fistula.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Although biliary and pancreatic diseases are rare in children, congenital disorders are more common in Korean children, and include choledochal cysts and pancreatic-biliary deformities. These conditions can lead to acute and chronic pancreatitis, biliary infection, and gallstones, which require endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. AMC Children's Hospital is the only place in Korea where the procedure is performed by pediatric gastroenterologists and pediatric surgeons, offering age-appropriate treatment for children. AMC pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition specialists also participate in the evaluation of acute and chronic pancreatitis without congenital lesions and biliary and pancreatic diseases resulting from abdominal injuries. The Department also provides genetic diagnosis for hereditary pancreatitis.

Obesity

We treat the rising number childhood obesity patients caused by excessive nutrition. Parents or children themselves tend to overlook the extent of obesity and its complications and do not take it seriously. After accurately assessing the degree of obesity based on weight and height, we offer dietary therapy and education in cooperation with the department of nutrition and analyze each patient’s basic physical strength to prescribe personalized exercise therapy through collaboration with the department of exercise medicine.

Growth failure

We carry out basic evaluation of children with growth failure in height, weight, and head; differential diagnosis of other associated underlying diseases through blood test, nutrition index, examinations of anemia and thyroid function, ECG, and breast radiography; and development assessment of infants to see whether they go through growth delay. We also provide nutrition counseling through collaboration with the department of nutrition.