Pediatric Neurogastroenterology Program

A Comprehensive Care Program

The Pediatric Neurogastroenterology Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) is designed to restore nutritional status and improve bowel function in children with a variety of chronic intestinal problems, including dysmotility, malabsorption and short bowel syndrome. Our goal is to provide a multidisciplinary approach that offers you and your child a wide range of expertise in the evaluation and treatment of children with severe intestinal disorders including:

• Hirschsprung’s disease
• Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
• Short bowel syndrome
• Motility disorders
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Intestinal neuronal dysplasia
• Intestinal failure
• Radiation enteritis
• Gastroschisis
• Intestinal atresia
• Anorectal malformations

Our Multidisciplinary Team

Each child will be evaluated and cared for by a team of experts, including pediatric surgeons, gastroenterologists, nutritionists and nurses. Child psychiatrists, child life specialists and social workers are also readily available to assist in the care of these young patients. In collaboration with the Pediatric Gastrointestinal Motility Center at MGHfC, we use state-of-the-art equipment to examine the motility of the intestinal tract. Our team works closely with pathologists and radiologists who are experts in these complex conditions.

Cutting-Edge Research

Members of the Neurogastroenterology Program are actively involved in leading scientific research to understand better the causes of intestinal failure.

Our basic science research program aims to understand the development of the enteric nervous system and how abnormalities of nerve cell development in the intestine lead to functional disorders of the intestine, including Hirschsprung’s disease, pseudo-obstruction and abnormal intestinal barrier function. We are also currently studying the potential of isolating and transplanting neuronal stem cells into the intestine for the treatment of intestinal neuropathies such as Hirschsprung’s disease.

We also perform clinical research studies to understand the natural history and treatment outcomes of motility disorders, including gastroparesis, intestinal pseudo-obstruction and intractable constipation.

Members of the Neurogastrointestinal Program are actively involved in leading scientific research to understand better the causes of intestinal failure.

• Our basic science research program aims to understand the development of the enteric nervous system and how abnormalities of nerve cell development in the intestine lead to various types of intestinal dysmotility, including Hirschsprung’s disease and severe constipation.
• We are developing methods to transplant stem cells in order to replace missing or damaged nerve cells in the intestine.
• Using metabolite profiling, we are working to identify novel serum biomarkers associated with colonic contractility and constipation in children.
• We are exploring novel minimally invasive technologies that will enable us to use colonoscopy and laparoscopy to visualize nerve cells in the intestine without the need for rectal or colonic biopsies.
• Using a genetic mouse model, we are studying the causes of Hirschsprung’s-associated enterocolitis in order to develop methods to prevent this serious condition.

Meet the Team

The pediatric neurogastroenterology group is a collaboration of surgical, psychiatric, and nutritional experts.

Medical/Surgical Staff

• Allan M. Goldstein, MD
         Chief, Pediatric Surgery
         Co-Director, Pediatric Neurogastroenterology Program

• Claire Zar-Kessler, MD
         Co-Director, Pediatric Neurogastroenterology Program

• Daniel P. Doody, MD
         Pediatric Surgery

• Janet Brideau, CPNP
         Pediatric Gastroenterology

Child Psychiatrist

• Emily Gray, MD

Child Nutritionist

• Catherine Hanley, MS, RD, LDN