Esophageal Disorders Clinic

Diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of conditions

Many of us take the ability to eat and drink for granted, but countless muscles and structures in the body have to work just right for the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract to do their jobs correctly. Disorders of the esophagus and issues with motility (moving food through the gastrointestinal system) can cause serious and painful problems, especially for children. Using the expertise of our leading specialists and the most effective and least invasive technologies available, the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Esophageal Disorders Clinic diagnoses and treats a wide array of these conditions. These include achalasia, esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroparesis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health was the first children’s hospital in North America to use peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), a groundbreaking, minimally invasive treatment for achalasia. Our specialists also pioneered the use of EndoFlip and EsoFlip technologies in children, which allow us to see inside and sometimes treat the esophagus and GI tract in ways that were never before possible. We provide surgical insertion of Enterra, a device that works like a pacemaker for the stomach. Our clinic also uses state-of-the-art technologies such as esophageal impedance pH testing and noninvasive intestinal monitoring to diagnose and treat gastroesophageal reflux and other related disorders.

Because we are part of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we have a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to working with you and your child and can use the world-class resources of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford to ensure the most effective treatment available. The Esophageal Disorders Clinic brings together specialists from gastroenterology and surgery to develop a plan that uses all the expertise and tools at our disposal to achieve the best possible outcome. Additional specialists from otolaryngology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, aerodigestive medicine, and elsewhere are also available to assist, as needed.