Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders Clinic

The Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital provides compassionate and innovative care to kids of all ages affected by functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Also known as disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI), this group of disorders includes a wide array of complex gastrointestinal motility and sensation issues. Our goal is to diagnose and improve your child’s symptoms using advanced diagnostic tools and treatments.

Neurogastroenterology focuses on the connection of the nerves between the brain and gut. The nerves in the GI tract communicate with nerves from the brain, which help regulate its functions.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility is the term that describes how the GI tract moves food throughout your body using muscle contractions controlled by nerves.

Children can have issues with food passing too slowly through their bodies (resulting in constipation) or too fast (leading to diarrhea). The nerves in the GI tract not only help with moving food but also with how the GI tract senses food. Sometimes children have increased sensation (hypersensitivity), which can result in FGID – such as functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome.