Multidisciplinary Approach In Pediatric Gastrointestinal And Liver Diseases

Abstract

It is a collaborative model approach that facilitates the timely diagnosis, individualised treatment, long-term follow-up and better outcomes for patients.

Some children may experience both gastrointestinal and liver disease, types and severity of disease may vary, it may be a chronic process, and may be difficult to diagnose. Conditions like chronic abdominal pain, malabsorption syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, congenital liver diseases and acute liver failure should be evaluated in a thorough manner using advanced lab and imaging tests in addition to a thorough examination. The following diagnostic procedures are biochemical analysis, serological, endoscopy, histopathology, molecular genetics and radiology analysis. Improvements with regards to abnormal liver (wonders such as development of ultrasonography, interventional radiology) and inflammatory bowel disease (intestines) evaluation (fecal calprotectin). Genetic testing is now a standard test to discover liver diseases that have genetic causes such as PFIC and Alagille, so that the disease can be diagnosed early and treated. The use of a multidisciplinary approach is specific in chronic and complex conditions of the children. IBD, chronic liver disease and biliary atresia thrive on teamwork among a number of disciplines of the healthcare team. Pediatric gastroenterologists have a central role in diagnosis and therapeutic planning and hepatobiliary surgeons have a role in procedures like Kasai portoenterostomy and liver transplantation. Radiologists provide diagnostic imaging and interventions using diagnostic imaging and pathologists are capable of providing confirmation of disease by histology. Clinical lab scientist aid in diagnosis through various interpretation of biochemical, hematological, immunological and molecular results. A new specialist nursing team is responsible for providing continuity of care, monitoring and education for the patient and a psychologist for emotional and/or behavioural responses to chronic conditions. This care system enhances the care and treatment delivery capabilities to help ensure compliance with treatments and promote better lifestyle and patient care. Somewhat appropriate use of Peds gastroenterology therapy would be nutrition care. Gastrointestinal-related disorders and liver diseases often present with nutritional issues such as malnutrition, growth failure and micronutrient deficiency in children. The assessment of nutritional status will be made by nutritionist and the ones who will be involved in the provision of a different range of interventions such as the enteral feeding, exclusive enteral nutrition or parenteral support. However in Crohn's disease in children, one nutrition approach is therapeutic: exclusive enteral nutrition (EEF) which lowers inflammation and growth of the intestine while being proven to be sustainable and effective. Treatment of celiac disease is simply diet therapy - a gluten-free diet. They highlight the importance of having dietitians integrated into children's multidisciplinary teams to be able to work on disease control, in parallel with nutritional rehabilitation, which the dietitian plays. Pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology is undergoing a transformation because of new technologies. The use of AI, molecular diagnostics and telemedicine is growing as tools to assist in diagnosis, treatment decisions and for monitoring in the long-term. AI imaging has a potential to help in early detection of conditions of the small and large bowel in newborns and telemedicine to patients who need an ongoing Specialist Service. Biologic therapy and combination therapy have made therapy available choices for severe inflammatory bowel disease and FMT could be a therapy option for some paediatric diseases. Innovations showcase how the world of multidisciplinary care is evolving and its significance to the new Precision Medicine.