The Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic at Children's Hospital New Orleans
The Children’s Hospital New Orleans Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic
provides a collaborative approach for infants, children, adolescents,
and young adults with intestinal failure. Though rare, intestinal failure
occurs when the small intestine is not able to properly digest food and
absorb nutrients and fluids to meet the body’s needs. This condition
is often the result of other gastrointestinal complications. When intestinal
failure occurs, intestinal rehabilitation can be used to restore the intestine’s
ability to effectively digest food and absorb nutrients.
Our services
The Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic multidisciplinary team includes providers
from the pediatric surgery and gastroenterology departments as well as
nutritionists who work collaboratively to perform a comprehensive evaluation.
The child may require additional testing including laboratory blood tests,
imaging, and other diagnostic procedures. The team will decide what type
of intestinal rehabilitation is needed such as diet modifications, medications,
and surgical procedures and will create a personalized treatment plan
to support these patients and their families. Some children with intestinal
failure may require total parenteral nutrition (TPN) which is total nutrition
given intravenously. The team will monitor the patient’s weight
and overall nutritional status and will work to carefully wean the child
off the TPN, if and when, it is appropriate.
Refer a patient
The Intestinal Rehabilitation Clinic takes place at the main campus at
Children’s Hospital on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Referring
providers should contact the Pediatric Surgery Department for more information
or to schedule a patient.
