Expert Care for Pediatric Pancreatic Conditions
We know how challenging pancreatic conditions can be. More than a decade ago, we opened the Pancreas Care Center at Cincinnati Children’s to help children and families just like yours. We welcome patients from across the country and around the world and provide expert diagnoses and advanced care for children with rare and complex pancreatic conditions. Some of the conditions we treat include:
- Acute, recurrent and chronic pancreatitis
- Pancreatic tumors
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Pancreatic birth defects/anatomic anomalies
The center is the first pediatric National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence and one of only a few places in the United States dedicated to caring for children with diseases of the pancreas.
Why Choose Us
International Leaders in Treating Pancreatic Disorders
Our Pancreas Care Center features a large team of globally recognized specialists who expertly diagnose and treat conditions like acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and other pancreatic conditions. Our team also offers your child personalized care using therapies that work to help manage their pain and nutritional needs.
Your child may also receive genetic testing for pancreatic disease. We offer both the Pancreas Gene Panel and the Pancreatic Insufficiency Panel, which help identify the main genetic causes of pancreatic conditions and assess the risk of developing them. This information can guide treatment and management.
Team-Based Approach to Care
Your family will work with a multidisciplinary team that’s well-coordinated and highly focused on caring for your child. The team is led by pediatric gastroenterologists with pancreas-specific training and pediatric surgeons who collaborate with specialists to provide personalized care for your child in:
- Pain management and psychology
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Radiology
To address your child’s needs in every way, these experts also work closely with:
- Genetic counselors
- Dietitians
- Nurses
- Social workers
The team meets with families to talk about specific findings and recommend treatments.
Endoscopic Procedures
Our advanced endoscopists are also among a select group of providers in the country who have broad experience providing this less-invasive option for children. They perform minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
Specialized Surgical Care
Cincinnati Children’s is one of only a few institutions in the United States to offer total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT). This procedure helps relieve pain and improve quality of life for patients who are dealing with debilitating chronic (long-term) pancreatitis. Our pediatric TPIAT program helps patients as young as 3 years old.
Proven Outcomes for Pancreatic Procedures
Your child will receive our compassionate approach to care, which combines personalized treatments with the latest in medical advancements. These advancements often mean that patients who receive TPIAT can return to their normal childhood activities as quickly as possible. Cincinnati Children’s has performed more than 150 successful TPIAT procedures—among the most in the country. We’ve achieved outstanding outcomes that help patients reduce their reliance on pain medicine and insulin.
Our Islet Isolation Center (IIC) is dedicated to TPIAT procedures and plays a key role because it allows us to extract islet cells on-site. That means your child benefits from:
- A higher quality of retrieved cells
- Faster recovery times
- Flexible scheduling options
- Reduced operating times
Commitment to Patient and Family Experience
Your time and prompt access to care matter greatly to us. We’re dedicated to providing care for your child in a way that’s convenient for your family. This includes appointments across multiple specialties that can be coordinated in one location and often in one visit.
Our treatment plans focus on complete patient care—including minimally invasive procedures with less downtime, nutritional management to help children grow strong, and more. Your child will receive care that addresses all their needs. Cincinnati Children’s specialists also work closely with your child’s primary care provider to coordinate treatment and follow-ups.
For children receiving care at another institution, we offer online second opinions so you can find answers more quickly.
Research that Enhances Pediatric Care
Cincinnati Children’s is a leader in conducting research to better understand what causes pediatric pancreatic disorders. Our patient registry provides data so we can learn to care for patients in ways that reduce their need to take more drugs, shorten hospital stays and improve treatment outcomes.
