The Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Inpatient Consult Service provides the evaluation and treatment of patients with complex nutritional requirements resulting from chronic medical problems, such as cancer, renal failure, malabsorption, chronic encephalopathy, heart failure, etc.

Treatment modalities include enteral nutrition (nasogastric, gastrostomy, nasojejunal tube feeding), parenteral nutrition (total parenteral nutrition [TPN]), peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN), percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement and follow-up.

Parental counseling and training for domicile TPN and enteral feeding are provided.

The Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Program fully evaluates and treats pediatric patients with intestinal, hepatobiliary and nutrition-related disorders. The pediatricians are sensitive to the needs of the infant, child and adolescent with GI disorders. Procedures are performed only on carefully selected patients.

Specific attention is paid to nutritional requirements through the full assessment of patients with chronic illnesses, so that normal growth and development may be achieved. A team approach, including physicians and a specialized pediatric nutritionist, is used.

Diseases such as malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, abdominal pain, peptic disease, constipation, encopresis, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatitis, portal hypertension, parasitic infestation and hyperlipidemia are evaluated.

Procedures available include esophagogastrodude-noscopy; colonoscopy; sigmoidoscopy; endoscopic biopsy; removal of foreign body and polypectomy; rectal, enteral and liver biopsy; 24-hour esophageal pH probe; esophageal manometry; hydrogen breath testing; total parenteral nutrition; enteral tube feeding; and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement.

The Pediatric Weight Control Program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is a multidisciplinary program designed to meet the unique needs of the child who has problems with weight management.

The program provides ongoing medical management, nutritional guidance and behavioral counseling. The program focuses on healthy eating and increased activities for the entire family.

All patients receive a comprehensive dietary evaluation on the initial visit. This evaluation is followed by a medical visit and behavioral counseling.