The Unit of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition of the First Department of Pediatrics at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens evaluates children and adolescents up to 16 years old with diseases of the digestive system. It provides clinical, research, and educational services.

Clinical Services

The Unit offers specialized services for diagnosis, systematic follow-up, and treatment across a wide range of conditions within Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Clinical Nutrition.

Conditions managed include:

  • Nutritional and growth disorders, including failure to thrive, malnutrition, obesity, and malabsorption syndromes such as celiac disease
  • Food allergies and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and infection with Helicobacter pylori
  • Gastrointestinal motility disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal achalasia, chronic constipation, and intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
  • Diseases of the liver, biliary system, and pancreas
  • Intestinal failure and nutritional support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition

Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures

The Unit performs a wide range of diagnostic and interventional procedures for the investigation and management of gastrointestinal diseases, including:

 Diagnostic procedures:

  • Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy and colonoscopy)
  • Capsule endoscopy (wireless endoscopic capsule)
  • Esophageal pH monitoring and impedance testing
  • Esophageal manometry
  • Anorectal manometry
  • Intestinal transit time study using radiopaque markers
  • 13C-urea breath test for confirming eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection
  • Hydrogen breath test for assessing carbohydrate malabsorption (e.g., lactose or fructose intolerance) and diagnosing small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
  • Stool antigen test for Helicobacter pylori
  • Liver biopsies

Therapeutic procedures:

  • Endoscopic placement of gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes
  • Esophageal dilations
  • Polypectomy (removal of polyps)
  • Removal of foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract
  • Endoscopic hemostasis (e.g., clips, argon plasma coagulation, hemospray, etc.)
  • Esophageal variceal ligation

Outpatient Clinics (by appointment)

The clinics operate on all working days from 09:30 to 13:00, as follows:

  • Monday: Endoscopies and administration of biological agents
  • Tuesday: Gastroenterology Clinic (general gastroenterology cases)
  • Tuesday: Liver Transplant Clinic (twice per month)
  • Wednesday: Hepatology Clinic (general hepatology cases)
  • Thursday: Administration of biological agents & manometry studies
  • Friday: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Clinic & Transition Clinic to adult services (once every two months)