Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0665
+44 1478 350008
Dinesh S Pashankar
Yale University School of Medicine, USA
Keynote: Pediatr Ther
Healthcare outcomes can be improved by innovative research by with novel safe and effective medications or by using quality improvement tools and same medical therapy. Our group has been active in both research and quality improvement methods to improve care of children with digestive diseases. Constipation and inflammatory bowel disease are two common digestive disorders in children. Both are chronic disorders and constipation is a common and problem worldwide while IBD is more common in developed world. Research studies - in the past, treatment of constipation in children was difficult due to poor acceptance of laxatives by children. Our group performed first study of a novel compound polyethylene glycol 3350 in the treatment of constipation in children. We reported safety, efficacy and high acceptance of polyethylene glycol in children. We also described novel indications of polyethylene glycol for use in bowel preparation for colonoscopy in children. We demonstrated superior efficacy of polyethylene glycol compared with milk of magnesia. As a result of our and other studies, polyethylene glycol has been recommended as a first line of therapy for constipation in children. In our IBD program, we use innovative quality improvement tools along with same medical therapy and have improved outcomes in our patients with IBD. Our remission rates (lack of gastrointestinal and general symptoms) are higher than target rates for 5 years. We have also been successful at maintaining above average nutritional and growth status of our patients. Our studies show that polyethylene glycol has been a very effective and safe therapy and has become a game changer laxative in the treatment of constipation in children worldwide. Using quality improvement tools, we demonstrate high remission rates in our patients with IBD. Both, innovative research and quality improvement can improve outcomes and care of children in clinical practice.
Dinesh S Pashankar is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Yale University, USA. He has work experience in different countries including India, UK, Canada and United States. His clinical interests include constipation therapy and inflammatory bowel diseases. He directs a multidisciplinary comprehensive Pediatric IBD program at Yale. He is an active researcher and has published more than 70 papers and reviews in leading international journals. He has authored book chapters and has given talks in international conferences all over the world. He has an MBA from Yale and has expertise in quality and process improvement in clinical practice.
E-mail: dinesh.pashankar@yale.edu