Whenever possible, pediatric GI doctors use therapeutic or minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat conditions.
Infusion therapy: For some conditions, infusion therapy may be needed. We have specially trained infusion nurses who help make your child comfortable. And with two infusion clinic locations, we make infusion therapy convenient for families in Central Texas.
Minimally invasive procedures: Many procedures can be performed using non-surgical, minimally invasive techniques. With this type of procedure, your child may have a shorter recovery. These procedures include endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), biopsy, polypectomy (polyp removal), dilatation of strictures and more.
Procedures: If procedures are recommended as part of your child’s care plan, have confidence knowing you are connected to the highest level of pediatric surgical care at Dell Children's Level I Pediatric Surgery Center. Pediatric anesthesiologists are part of our care team and specialize in anesthesia for even the tiniest patients. And child life specialists help make your child feel calm and comfortable before surgery. We take the time to explain the procedure to you and to your child in a way they understand. Knowing what to expect can help reduce stress.
Multidisciplinary care for GI conditions
Our pediatric gastroenterologists work with many different specialists at Dell Children’s to provide comprehensive care for complex conditions. These multispecialty teams include:
Advanced care for aerodigestive conditions
Some conditions, such as airway, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, may require care from several different specialists. The Aerodigestive Program at Dell Children’s Medical Center brings together a multispecialty team of pediatric otolaryngologists (ear, nose and throat doctors), pediatric pulmonologists (lung doctors), pediatric GI doctors, dietitians, speech therapists, respiratory therapists and more. Together, we deliver care for children with complex airway, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. At Dell Children’s, you’ll be connected to all the care your child needs.
Specializing in the connection between mental and GI health
At Dell Children’s, we care for the whole child – physical and emotional health. Sometimes, mental and emotional health can affect gut health, in what is known as the brain-gut connection. That’s why we have a pediatric psychologist as part of our care team in our clinic. So while your child’s GI doctor is caring for their physical health, their pediatric psychologist cares for your child’s mental health.
Our pediatric psychologist works with children to care for stress and anxiety that may be making GI symptoms such as pain, diarrhea or constipation worse. Your child’s psychologist can teach them about relaxation techniques and other tools they can use to help reduce stress and anxiety. Many times, when a child is better able to cope, their GI symptoms may be reduced.
At your child’s first visit, we listen to your concerns and discuss your child’s health history. Then, your child will have a physical exam. Your child’s doctor may also recommend diagnostic tests, such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, stool tests, urine tests, breath tests, X-ray, ultrasound, CT scans, MRIs, and more. Working with our GI doctor who specializes in pediatric neurogastroenterology, we also provide esophageal manometry, a swallowing test that measures the muscle movement (motility) of the esophagus.