Endoscopy suite

Children with conditions affecting the digestive system (the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts) often require advanced procedures. In the pediatric endoscopy suite at Cohen Children's Medical Center, physicians of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition have the most advanced technology available to carry out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, specially adapted to the unique needs of children. Our goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible during this process.

Providing a child-friendly environment, our Pediatric endoscopy suite is staffed by pediatric gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and child life specialists. The entire resources of Cohen Children’s Medical Center—including pediatric intensivists and surgeons, as well as pediatric/neonatal ICU facilities—are also available at a moment’s notice.

Being one of the largest groups of pediatric gastroenterologists in the tri-state area, a special endoscopic interventionist team has been developed—it consists of professionals with specialized skills to handle some of the rarer pediatric gastrointestinal conditions. Our pediatric endoscopists are integral members of the collaborative Comprehensive Airway, Respiratory, and Esophageal (CARE) Team. This coordinated team approach brings together several specialists to accurately diagnose multifaceted conditions, without exposing the child to multiple sedations.

Some of the conditions we address in the pediatric endoscopy suite include:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Celiac disease
• Gastrointestinal food allergy
• Esophagitis/heartburn
• Stricture disease
• Achalasia
• Gastroparesis
• Lesion ablation
• Abdominal pain
• Chronic diarrhea
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Jaundice
• Liver disease/hepatitis

In addition, our suite features the latest motility technology to diagnose esophageal reflux, abnormal swallowing, and abnormal pressures and sensations of the lower GI tract.

We have many state-of-the-art techniques available for use in the suite, including video capsule endoscopy. In this technique, a small capsule containing a tiny camera is swallowed or endoscopically placed in the stomach. The capsule is then carried naturally through the intestine, transmitting video data to a device worn by the child on the outside. As a result, a recording of the entire interior of the intestine is obtained and then reviewed for abnormalities.

Another specialized service of the pediatric endoscopy team is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP is a specialized procedure needed for the diagnosis of unusual conditions of the biliary ducts or pancreas; it can also be used therapeutically for stone extraction or stricture dilation. The Cohen Children’s team is the only pediatric service on Long Island to provide this advanced endoscopic therapeutic procedure for hepatobiliary disease.

Additional techniques we perform in the suite include:

• Upper endoscopy with biopsy
• Upper endoscopy with balloon dilation of strictures
• Upper endoscopy with bleeding control, including sclerotherapy or variceal ligation
• Colonoscopy with biopsy
• Colonoscopy with polypectomy
• Colonoscopy with balloon dilation of strictures
• Esophageal pH/impedance testing for diagnosis of acid reflux and aerodigestive disorders
• Esophageal and ano-rectal manometry for the diagnosis of intestinal motility disorders
• Liver biopsy
• Rectal biopsy