The main fields of interest in pediatric hepatology are the diagnosis and treatment of the following newborn and pediatric diseases:

• Acute/chronic liver disease.
• Acute/chronic end-stage liver failure.
• Acute/chronic gastrointestinal diseases with or without functional organ failure.
• Multi-organ functional failure.

The Unit is responsible for the selection of liver transplant candidates and post-transplant follow-up and, in close collaboration with the pediatric abdominal surgical team, for the medical follow-up of patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery, liver resections and gastrointestinal surgery.

The diagnosis and treatment of pediatric hepatobiliary diseases at ISMETT started in 2004 with a pediatric liver transplant program involving medical staff from Italian institutions with extensive experience in the treatment of this disease, and initially mainly concerned patients with end-stage organ decompensation. A pediatric hepatology and non-transplant hepatobiliopancreatic pediatric surgery program was later launched with a dedicated and trained team.

ISMETT’s catchment area also includes pediatric patients from non-European countries.