Pediatric Services

When to refer a constipated child to a pediatric gastroenterologist

The following pediatric constipation referral guidelines and recommended outpatient treatments were developed by John T. Stutts, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at Norton Children’s Gastroenterology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Dr. Stutts practices at the Novak Center for Children’s Health downtown and at Norton Medical Plaza II – Brownsboro on Norton Brownsboro Hospital/Norton Children’s Medical…

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Adult Services, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Obstetrics, Pediatric Services

Seamless transition between maternal-fetal medicine team and other specialists, including neonatology and others

When a pregnant patient is referred for maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) care at Norton Children’s, they step into a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including obstetricians with expertise in high-risk pregnancies and pediatric specialists who can help with any challenges the baby is facing. “We have numerous specialists that we rely on,” said Mureena Turnquest-Wells, M.D., a…

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Pediatric Services

Common causes of pediatric back pain

Back pain occurs in about a third of patients at some point in their adolescence and is fairly common in children over the age of 10. Very rarely, however, is it the result of a structural issue such as a disc condition or nerve irritation, according to Joshua W. Meier, M.D, pediatric orthopedic surgeon with…

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Pediatric Services

Minimally invasive PDA repair allows faster extubation of micro-preemies

Until recently, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) repair in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) required an involved surgical procedure. The surgeon would enter from the side, collapse the lung, find and ligate the vessels, reinflate the lung, and close. The patient usually required significant support for the next two to three days…

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Adult Services, Research, Spine

New guidelines for bone health assessment before elective spinal reconstruction

The Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines for Perioperative Spine: Preoperative Osteoporosis Assessment recently was published in Neurosurgery. To develop these recommendations, the authors performed systematic review of the literature using national databases for studies relevant to preoperative diagnostic studies that predict increased risk of osteoporosis-related postoperative complications and whether the preoperative…

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Pediatric Services

Dysplastic pulmonary valve complicates HLHS palliation

The patient Newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with a dysplastic pulmonary valve and progressive pulmonary valve stenosis The challenge The dysplastic pulmonary valve makes it unsuitable to proceed with the typical first stage of single ventricle palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) — the Norwood procedure, which would transition the pulmonary valve…

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Adult Services, Obstetrics

Planning for postpartum birth control shared decision-making with patients

Postpartum birth control conversations with patients are best started prepartum as a conversation about the desire for and timing of any future pregnancies, according to Kathryn R. Bradley, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist with Women’s Care Physicians of Louisville, a Part of Norton Women’s Care. “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises this is…

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Pediatric Services

Championing the use of pediatric simulations in medical training

Pediatric simulation isn’t much different from the training that allowed airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger make a successful emergency landing on the Hudson River after a bird strike caused engine failure on the passenger jet taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The so-called “Miracle on the Hudson” was possible only because pilots train on…

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Adult Services, Sleep Medicine

Kevin K. Trice, M.D., MBA, named medical director of Norton Sleep Centers

Kevin K. Trice, M.D., MBA, has been named medical director of Norton Sleep Centers. Dr. Trice is a native of Louisville, but has been working and training around the country for much of the past 20 years. Dr. Trice completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville and received his medical training at UofL…

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Pediatric Services

Three neuromodulation approaches to treating refractory epilepsy

For two-thirds of children with epilepsy, medications are effective at reducing seizures. After trying two or more anti-seizure medications without success, the remaining one-third have medically refractory epilepsy. For these children, surgery, a ketogenic diet or implantation of a neuromodulation device are options. Determining which of these is best for a particular child requires a…

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Behavioral and Mental Health, Pediatric Services

Medical treatment for depression and anxiety in pediatric patients

Before beginning medical treatment for depression or anxiety in a child or adolescent, it is helpful to rule out medical conditions such as anemia (checking iron, B12, and folate), diabetes, vitamin D deficiency and abnormal thyroid levels, according to Felissa P. Goldstein, M.D., child and adolescent psychiatrist with Norton Children’s Behavioral & Mental Health, affiliated…

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