The Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Melbourne provides expert comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation and management of all paediatric gastrointestinal and liver conditions. We have an international reputation as a leader in clinical care,
research and
fellowship training in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and clinical nutrition. We lead and contribute to a number of cutting-edge multi-centre international
research projects and trials. Our quaternary service comprises
outpatient and inpatient care, and a comprehensive variety of investigations and treatments, including a dedicated endoscopy theatre. We provide treatment for children from Victoria and Tasmania. The liver transplant service also provides care for children from South Australia, and a national
intestinal transplant service provides transplantation and care for children throughout Australia.
Conditions
Our family centred service offers care for neonates, infants, children and young adults with a wide variety of conditions:
General gastrointestinal conditions
Liver conditions
- Acute liver failure
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Biliary atresia
- Fatty liver disease
- Metabolic liver disease
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Viral hepatitis
- Wilson's disease
Complex nutritional conditions
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
- Intestinal failure
- Nutritional programs associated with other complex disorders (eg. oncological, immunological, gastrointestinal conditions)
- Short-gut syndrome
Investigations and treatments
We offer a comprehensive variety of investigations and treatments:
Investigations
Treatments
Team
Our collaborative multidisciplinary team comprises of paediatric Gastroenterologists and fellows, clinical nutrition Consultants and fellows, paediatric and transplant surgeons, advanced practice nurses, paediatric interventional radiologists, dietitians and allied health specialists.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease service
The
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) service provides care for over 400 complex IBD patients within the state and is one of the largest units in Australia. We provide comprehensive care for our patients from the point of referral right through to diagnosis, treatment and long term management. We have dedicated
IBD clinics and patients are managed by a multidisciplinary team. Our service is supported by the expertise of our subspecialty colleagues from
Endocrinology,
Rheumatology,
Ophthalmology,
Dermatology,and
Immunisation Specialists. We have a large
day medical unit where patients can receive biological and iron infusions. We work in close collaboration with our adult colleagues to ensure a smooth
transition to the adult services for our patients.
Intestinal failure services
We have an integrated intestinal failure and rehabilitation service, providing patients with a unique opportunity to be evaluated, supported and treated by a world class and innovative team of medical, nursing, surgical specialists and allied health specialists in gastrointestinal diseases
and parenteral nutrition therapy.
Liver disease, liver transplantation and intestinal transplantation services
In partnership with Austin Health, we form the Victorian Liver Transplant Unit and
Australian Intestinal Transplant Service , providing liver transplant service for the children and adolescents of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and a national
intestinal transplant service to patients within Victoria, and other states as required. Liver disease, and liver and intestinal transplantation services are supported by dedicated Clinical Nurse Consultants. The RCH Liver Transplant Program is an Australian Nationally Funded Centre Program. The Royal Children Hospital has performed over one hundred paediatric liver transplants in partnership with Austin Health. In 2012 the team performed Australia’s first paediatric intestinal transplant.
Links to more information:
The links below are uploaded for the 100th liver transplant celebration (RCH):