Advances in paediatric gastroenterology

Paul K H Tam, Patrick H Y Chung, Shawn D St Peter, Christopher P Gayer, Henri R Ford, Greta C H Tam, Kenneth K Y Wong, Mikko P Pakarinen, Mark Davenport

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    70 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Recent developments in paediatric gastrointestinal surgery have focused on minimally invasive surgery, the accumulation of high-quality clinical evidence, and scientific research. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery for common disorders like appendicitis and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis are all supported by good clinical evidence. Although minimally invasive surgery has been extended to neonatal surgery, it is difficult to establish its role for neonatal disorders such as oesophageal atresia and biliary atresia through clinical trials because of the rarity of these disorders. Advances in treatments for biliary atresia and necrotising enterocolitis have been achieved through specialisation, multidisciplinary management, and multicentre collaboration in research; similarly robust clinical evidence for other rare gastrointestinal disorders is needed. As more neonates with gastrointestinal diseases survive into adulthood, their long-term sequelae will also need evidence-based multidisciplinary care. Identifying cures for long-term problems of a complex developmental anomaly such as Hirschsprung's disease will rely on unravelling its pathogenesis through genetics and the development of stem-cell therapy.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1072-1082
    Number of pages11
    JournalLancet
    Volume390
    Issue number10099
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 7 Sept 2017

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Advances in paediatric gastroenterology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this