Research Overview
Under the leadership of Pediatric Surgery Chief Brad Warner, M.D., researchers in the Division of Pediatric Surgery are developing new focused areas of research.
Intestinal Adaptation to Massive Intestinal Loss
Multiple conditions in humans exist in which a large proportion of the intestine needs to be surgically removed or is lost due to injury, inflammation, or interruption of blood supply. Once the intestine is removed, the bowel that is remaining senses this acute loss and tries to compensate by a process termed adaptation.
The adaptation laboratory seeks to more fully understand this response and advance treatments, ultimately, to permit patients to achieve a more normal lifestyle.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Research is underway to better understand the role of various growth factors in the etiology and management of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Short Bowel Syndrome
Researchers in the Division are participating in clinical outcomes studies of children with short bowel syndrome.
Trauma and Burn Care
As a Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center, under the direction of Trauma Director Martin Keller, M.D., St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) is a leading referral center for regional trauma cases. SLCH is also the only hospital with a dedicated pediatric burn program in the St. Louis metropolitan area,. An abundance of data has been generated from these patients and used to study important issues related to trauma and burns. This includes analysis of pediatric gunshot wounds, injuries from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents, duodenal injuries and ambulatory burn care. These studies have been presented at prominent medical meetings and have been published in major medical journals.
Congenital Conditions
The Division’s surgeons not only diagnose and treat diaphragmatic hernias (protrusion of abdominal contents into the chest through a weakness in the respiratory diaphragm), but have have investigated and carried out new methods to improve outcomes.
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