Medical Services for Pediatric IBD

Our team of subspecialists individualize inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment based on patient, family, and disease-specific needs. We use targeted therapy aimed at keeping your child healthy. Our ultimate goal is for every child to achieve deep remission and reach his or her full potential.

You and your child’s journey starts with an initial intake and consultation. We then create an effective treatment plan for your child by bringing multidisciplinary experts together to make decisions with your family at the center. We take various factors into consideration, including disease extent and severity, safety, lifestyle factors, the psychosocial needs of your child and family, and the most recent scientific breakthroughs. We encourage all of our families to come to an Interdisciplinary Care Clinic visit, especially those who are newly diagnosed, to meet with an IBD medical provider, dietitian, social worker, clinical psychologist, and nurse educator. When needed, we may also refer your family for additional consultations with integrative medicine, pediatric surgery, rheumatology and other subspecialists.

Medical services include:

Medications

Each child’s body and digestive system responds uniquely: A medicine that might work to control symptoms and inflammation for one child may not work for another. We partner with you to make joint decisions on effective medicines and care plans, respecting your family’s values each step along the way.

Medications for IBD reduce inflammation by suppressing an overactive immune system. Classes of these medications include corticosteroids, antibiotics, 5-ASAs, immunomodulators, and biologics. We create a personalized treatment plan for your child with consideration of the conventional drugs to the most recent leading-edge medications, along with the option to participate in clinical studies.

Our pediatric infusion center with dedicated nurses and child life specialists provides excellent care for those needing medication via infusion.

To learn more about specific medications, visit Patient and Family Resources.

Surgery

Surgery can be an important intervention in the treatment of some children with IBD struggling with complications or not responding fully to medicines. The appropriately timed surgery can make a huge difference in reducing symptoms, restoring function, and improving quality of life. Our gastroenterology doctors work closely with renowned surgeons at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, who are highly skilled in performing intricate procedures with outstanding outcomes. We use the latest, minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques whenever possible, ensuring small incisions and rapid recovery.

Surgical procedures may include any of the following:

• Treatment of complex perianal disease, including fistulas and abscesses
• Limited intestinal resection
• Colectomy
• Ileostomy
• Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (J-pouch)
• Stricturoplasty

Multidisciplinary care

To ensure that all children receive the very best medical care at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we break down invisible lines and collaborate across specialties to coordinate care with the goal of achieving the best possible outcomes. Our team works closely with various subspecialties when appropriate, including dermatology, rheumatology, hepatology, pancreatology, immunology, endocrinology, pulmonology, surgery, stem cell transplant and immunology, genetics, psychiatry, radiology, and pathology to coordinate multidisciplinary care. We also work with specialists in intestinal rehabilitation—a unique offering here at Stanford Children’s Health—for children who require long-term enteral or parenteral nutrition (TPN).

In addition, you and your child have access to the Gastrointestinal Pain Clinic, which provides tools and therapeutic plans for managing pain associated with IBD and related conditions. Child life specialists are available to support your child during clinic visits, hospitalizations, infusions, blood draws, and other IBD-related procedures.