Pancreas Care
Treating the Whole Patient to Achieve Best Possible Outcomes
Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation (TPIAT)
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Pancreas Care at Nationwide Children's
Accredited as an Academic and Clinical Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s patient-centered approach to care for infants, children and teens suffering from pancreas diseases offers a comprehensive approach to care. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team to address the complex and interconnected conditions and circumstances that contribute to the health of our patients, so that our patients can achieve the best possible outcomes and quality of life.
Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Gastroenterology and GI Surgery.
About Pancreas Care at Nationwide Children's
Nationwide Children’s provides specialized, multidisciplinary care for infants, children and young adults who suffer from pancreatic problems. Our multidisciplinary team includes gastroenterologists, surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, social workers, specialists in treating pain, psychologists and other medical professionals with advanced expertise in pancreatitis and related conditions.
Nationwide Children’s Pancreas and Liver Care Center offers a complex surgical procedure known as TPIAT, or total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation. This is a life-changing surgical treatment option for children with debilitating pain and impaired quality of life from acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. Nationwide Children’s is one of only a handful of children’s hospitals in the United States with expertise in TPIAT.
When choosing a hospital for the care and treatment of your child, Nationwide Children’s offers the full spectrum of care, from nutritional support to complex gastrointestinal reconstruction surgery. All of these have one goal in mind: achieving the best possible outcome for your child.
Recognized for Excellence in Pancreas Care
INSPPIRE
Nationwide Children’s is also a select participant of INSPPIRE (INternational Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE), a prestigious research consortium dedicated to pediatric pancreatitis, with only 25 participating sites worldwide. The INSPPIRE group was formed to improve diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of pediatric pancreatitis.
Pancreatic Disorders We Treat
- Acute, acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis
- Anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction
- Autoimmune pancreatitis
- Congenital abnormalities (annular pancreas, pancreas divisum)
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Pancreatic ascites
- Pancreatic cysts and pseudocysts
- Pancreatic disrupted duct
- Pancreatic duct and bile duct diseases
- Pancreatic lymphatic malformations
- Pancreatic trauma
- Pancreatic tumors
Our Multidisciplinary Pancreas Care Team
The pancreas care specialists at Nationwide Children’s include our expert team of physicians, surgeons and other medical professionals with in-depth knowledge and experience in pancreatitis and related conditions.
Each specialty plays a unique and important role on the care team for your child. Working together as a team, we ensure treatment accounts for all facets of the disease and life circumstances encountered by your child. Our professionals are aware of the challenges that pancreatitis can create for families and children. We help guide our patients and their families through the many aspects of their care.
Our dedicated care team includes members from:
Diagnosing Pancreatic Disease
When a child has symptoms of a pancreas problem, we may perform any of the following tests to make a diagnosis:
- Blood and stool tests
- CT scan (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the abdomen
- Endoscopic pancreatic function test
- Special MRI of the pancreas and biliary tree (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRCP)
- Abdominal ultrasound (sonogram) of the abdomen
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a specialized endoscopic procedure performed by a gastroenterologist
Conditions We Treat
We treat the full range of pancreas conditions at Nationwide Children’s, from the most basic pancreatitis to the most complex conditions requiring pancreatic operations.
Treatment and Services
Nationwide Children’s offers the full range of therapies for children with pancreas conditions. Treating pancreatitis involves maintaining good nutrition during periods when it is difficult to eat, relieving pain, draining or replacing fluids and keeping enzymes in balance. Depending on your child’s diagnosis, it may also involve removing stones, opening blockages or performing a more advanced procedure.
In some cases, children with debilitating pain and impaired quality of life from acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis may benefit from a complex surgical procedure known as TPIAT, or total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.
Pain Management
Pancreatitis can be a very painful condition, making effective pain management a critical part of your child’s overall care plan. Repeated episodes of inflammation may cause irreversible damage, causing pain relief options to be less effective over time. This can make expert pain care even more important to your child’s wellbeing. Focusing on a multimodal pain management approach, our team consists of physicians with dedicated pain management training, psychologists, dietitians and physical therapists to address all aspects of pain management.
No matter your child’s condition, the pancreas care team will work to create a comprehensive plan to keep your child as comfortable as possible.
Pancreas Center Resources
Knowing that you are not alone in your struggle can be comforting, and learning how other families cope with pancreatitis can open up ideas and suggestions. Learn more about pediatric pancreatitis on our blog, or visit our hospital Facebook page to connect with other families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our experts have compiled a list of the most common questions about pancreas care. Our team would be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
