Pediatric Hepatology

Major Capabilities

• Diagnostic and therapeutic Pediatric GI endoscopies
• Procedures including pediatric trans-jugular biopsies and hepatic venous portal gradient measurements
• Hepatic vein angioplasty and stenting
• Fully functioning Pediatric liver transplant unit (more than 200 pediatric liver transplants in the last 14 years)
• Designated centre for advanced training in Pediatric Hepatology (For 3 year D.M course)
• Intramural and extramural research initiatives
• Two pan-Indian registries in Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis and Glycogen Storage Disorders

Major Facilities and Services

• Outdoor facilities for evaluation of neonatal and childhood liver disease
• Pediatric Hepatology ward for management of infectious, metabolic, and hereditary liver diseases in neonates, children, and adolescents (including NICU and PICU)
• Age and clinical profile appropriate protocol-based approach to metabolic liver disorders
• Diagnostic and therapeutic pediatric GI endoscopies
• Hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement and hepatic vein angioplasty with stenting
• Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Transcranial Doppler monitoring in ICU for acute liver failure
• Plasmapheresis in acute liver failure and acute-on-chronic liver failure patients
• Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapy for children aged 1 to 18 years
• Pre-transplant evaluation and post-transplant monitoring
• Pediatric hepatobiliary surgeries (Kasai's portoenterostomy, Hepaticojejunostomy, Partial Hepatectomyetc)
• Splenic artery embolization and radiofrequency ablation for pediatric cases
• Counseling to parents through ILBS website and development of a "Query Corner" to assist general pediatricians

Clinical Outcomes and Achievements

Acute Liver Failure in Children
Acute liver failure (ALF) in children is an acute devastating condition with high risk of complications and mortality if proper management is not provided. Using standardized protocol-based management with state-of-the-art techniques including High Volume Plasmapheresis and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, the department has achieved high survival rates comparable with the best centres in the world.

Outcomes:

• Splenic artery embolization and radiofrequency ablation for pediatric cases
• Counseling to parents through ILBS website and development of a "Query Corner" to assist general pediatricians

Wilson Disease in Children
Wilson Disease is one of the most common causes of liver disease in children, with high risk of poor outcomes if not diagnosed early or properly managed. With extensive experience managing more than 325 cases, the department has successfully saved the majority through medical management and supportive strategies (including Plasmapheresis), avoiding the need for liver transplantation. Careful family screening has identified many silent cases that were treated before becoming symptomatic.

Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Children
The department has managed more than 1,200 cases of pediatric chronic hepatitis B infection. The majority were deemed not to require any treatment based on disease status, with favourable outcomes in all cases. For those requiring treatment, the department has achieved high success rates with innovative therapies including sequential therapy using Interferon and oral antiviral drugs.

Autoimmune Liver Disease in Children
More than 285 subjects with autoimmune liver disease have been diagnosed and managed with excellent treatment responses exceeding 80%, avoiding unnecessary liver transplantation despite the fact that the majority had advanced liver disease at presentation. These success rates are comparable with those of the best pediatric liver units in the world.

Metabolic Liver Diseases
Metabolic liver diseases are being diagnosed and managed at the centre in a very cost-effective manner using a protocol-based approach. These include common conditions such as Galactosemia, Tyrosinemia, and Glycogen Storage Disease, which when diagnosed at the appropriate age can be effectively managed, avoiding the need for liver transplantation.

New Services and Facilities Added in 2025

Educational Activities

Details of Educational Activities (CME/Conf/Workshop/Webinars) Hosted in 2025

Clinical Scenarios in Pediatric Liver Disease (CSPLD) - 8th National Conference
In collaboration with the Indian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ISPGHAN), the department organized its 7th national conference in New Delhi (February 22-23, 2025). The conference theme this year was "Pediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease: Tackling the Challenges". This theme was of utmost importance in our pursuit to enhance the quality of care provided to all children with autoimmune liver disease. The conference featured case-based discussions and didactic lectures along on latest advances in the field including pathophysiology, treatment strategies, and liver transplantation. Eminent pediatric hepatologists, intensivists, nephrologists, and liver transplant surgeons participated, providing participants with rare opportunities to interact with stalwarts in the field and discuss the management of AIH from etiopathogenesis through liver transplantation. The day 2 was the consensus meeting on 'Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease' under the Indian society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition which included international and national experts.

Teleconference Meeting with Texas Children's Hospital, USA
The department conducts teleconference meetings with the Department of Transplant Hepatology and Critical Care at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, USA on the first Tuesday of every alternate month. These sessions provide opportunities for pediatric hepatology and critical care teams to discuss latest research, clinical approaches, and management protocols. The meetings enable residents to interact with international faculty and discuss day-to-day patient management issues and research topics. To date, 20 such sessions have been conducted.

Wilson India Network (WIN)
A patient-centric support network for children with Wilson disease has been initiated, representing the first such attempt in the country.

Courses offered by the Department

Department's Achievements - Research and Residents

Conference Presentations (2025)

• European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Annual Meeting 2025 - Helsinki, Finland
• 33rd Annual Meeting of Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL) 2025
• DRILLS (Decisions, Reasoning, Innovation and Learning in Liver Diseases) 2025 - New Delhi
• 66th Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) Annual Conference (ISGCON
• 12th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ISPGHANCON) 2025
• Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver - Annual Meeting 2025
• American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases - Annual 'The Liver Meeting' 2025

Awards and Recognition (2025)

• First prize in E-case presentation in DRILLS studio in DRILLS 6th Edition, 2025,New Delhi
• CP mittal award in oral paper presentation in Indian Society of Gastroenterology, hepatology and Nutrition (ISPGHAN), 2025 Bengaluru
• Second prize in Plenary section, oral paper presentation in Indian Society of Gastroenterology, hepatology and Nutrition (ISPGHAN), 2025 Bengaluru
• First prize in case presentation in Liver clinics in ISGCON 2025 , Amritsar
• First prize in E-case presentation in DRILLS studio in DRILLS 6th Edition, 2025,New Delhi
• Second prize in VOICE session at ISPGHANCON 2025
• Second prize in case presentation in Liver clinics in ISGCON 2025, Amritsar

Visiting Consultants