Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Gastrointestinal diseases are among the most difficult medical problems that children face, primarily because they frequently result in chronic, unpleasant and even life-threatening symptoms. UCMG physicians within the Division of Gastroenterology provide comprehensive care for children with a variety of disorders of the digestive tract, enabling many of them to live full and normal lives.
The primary goal of the Divison is to care for children with intestinal, liver and nutritional disorders. Commonly referred medical problems include intestinal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, chronic abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, liver dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux. Included in the Division's clinical activities are the evaluation and care of children who have either chronic liver disease or acute hepatic failure and are liver transplant candidates. Evaluation and treatment also are available for poor growth or malnutrition. In addition, children are referred with gastrointestinal, liver or nutritional problems resulting from other medical problems, including immunodeficiency syndrome, bone marrow or organ transplantation, cancer and cystic fibrosis.
In addition to the UCMG physicians who are specially trained to diagnose and manage patients with pediatric liver and intestinal disorders, Division staff include an enterostomal therapist, a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist who provides nutrition support, a dietitian and various other support personnel.
UCMG physicians in the Divison of Gastroenterology and Nutrition also see patients in offices in San Luis Obispo.
Description of Programs and Services
- Nutritional Assessment and Support
This includes assistance for children who require special nutritional intervention, including those with feeding disorders, growth failure, dietary intolerance, short bowel syndrome and congenital bowel disorders and malabsorption. Nutrition support services can be provided to administer long-term intravenous nutrition or specialized tube feedings in selected cases.
- Liver Transplant Service
Children with chronic liver disease or acute liver failure are evaluated and managed. Split-liver, living donor and cadaveric liver transplants are performed on patients who have end stage chronic liver disease or life threatening liver failure.
- Gastroenterology Service
UCMG physicians with the Gastroenterology Service evaluate and manage children with liver and intestinal diseases. The service is open to any child with a gastrointestingal disorder.
- Gastrointestinal Diseases
The Division coordinates a comprehensive approach to complex primary gastrointestinal diseases, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, allergic enteropathy, celiac disease, pancreatitis and chronic liver disease. The same comprehensive approach is utilized in the evaluation and treatment of children who suffer from digestive, liver or nutritional disorders resulting from other primary diseases.
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy is provided, including diagnostic upper endoscopy, diagnostic colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, esophageal dilatation, endoscopic control of intestinal bleeding, placement of feeding gastrostomy tubes, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
- Dan W. Thomas, M.D., Division Head
- Ari Bergwerk, M.D.
- Glenn Z. Duh, M.D.
- Michelle M. Pietzak, M.D.
- Frank R. Sinatra, M.D.
- Ardath K. Yamaga, M.D.
HOW TO CONTACT US
The Division of Gastroenterology welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:
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| Call the Division directly at: | (323) 669-2181 | |
Fax us at: |
(323) 664-0718 |
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Write to us at: |
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd., #78 Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062 |
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| Call the Liver Transplant Service directly at: | (323) 669-5454 | |
Fax: |
(323) 671-3612 |
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