Gastroenterology Procedure Unit
A visit to the hospital can be stressful, especially if your child needs to undergo a procedure. The clinicians in the Gastroenterology Procedure Unit (GPU) at Boston Children’s Hospital are dedicated to making this process easier. The GPU is a full-service unit providing an array of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures, motility procedures, and other testing related to liver disease, nutrition and digestion. Our expert team offers a safe, comfortable environment for children and their families and works closely with other departments and divisions in the hospital to accommodate both routine and urgent care in a timely fashion.
Our approach to gastroenterology procedures
Offering more than the typical gastroenterology endoscopy center, our specialists provide world-renowned care to children with gastrointestinal, pancreatic and hepatobiliary disorders, including allergic and eosinophilic disorders, celiac disease, chronic diarrhea, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, pancreatic disease and malabsorption disorders. In addition, we collaborate with Boston Children’s respiratory disease specialists in the care of aerodigestive disorders.
Our team consists of physicians, advanced practice nurses, nurses, technicians and administrative staff who work together to care for patients. We also collaborate with our colleagues throughout the hospital, including specialists from theMotility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Center,Aerodigestive Center,Esophageal and Airway Treatment CenterandSedation Services, to perform a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:
- breath testing forHelicobacter pyloriinfection and malabsorption problems
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- endoscopy, including capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, enteroscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ultrasound endoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
- gastroesophageal reflux testing (Bravo capsule pH monitoring, pH/impedance probe monitoring, SmartPill)
- indirect calorimetry
- liver elastography (Fibroscan)
- motility testing (perfused and high-resolution solid-state catheter manometry)
- BOTOX® injection
- esophageal and other intestinal stricture dilation
- foreign body removal
- gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement
- hemostasis
- polypectomy
- 治疗内镜逆行cholangiopancreatography
- sedation services
Our team also assists in the care of children with life-threatening cases in other areas of the hospital, such as the intensive care and surgical units, using our portable equipment.
Our areas of innovation in gastroenterology procedures
The clinicians in the GPU perform leading-edge research studies in a number of areas. Our ongoing research projects include investigations into the use of endoscopic ultrasound, sedation for procedures, chronic esophageal disease, polyposis and inflammatory bowel disease.
