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Pediatric Gastroenterology

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology

The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition takes care of patients with a wide range of digestive, nutritional, and liver problems, as well as patients who have had liver transplants and patients with intestinal failure. Our faculty and staff work in many ways to care for patients.

Mission of Pediatric Gastroenterology

The mission of the Department of Gastroenterology is to provide excellent clinical care and make it easy for patients to get our services. They also want to eliminate the devastating effects of GI and Liver disorders, making our community healthier and happier.

Vision of Pediatric Gastroenterology

We desire to provide leading practice health care in a modern, well-equipped facility to deliver a positive service experience to all patients.

Objectives of Pediatric Gastroenterology

  • To provide the highest standards in education and training in Pediatric Gastroenterology and hepatology.

  • Provide superior facilities, as well as leading edge medical and information technology.

  • To provide the highest standards in education and training in Pediatric Gastroenterology and hepatology.

  • To promote public awareness of gastrointestinal and liver disorders.

Pediatric Gastroenterology Services:

  • Inpatient Service:

This is for newly hospitalized patients, like those with upper or lower GI bleeding, an IBD flare-up, acute liver failure or pancreatitis, those who need TPN and have a central line infection, and those who need nutritional rehabilitation. We also care for long-term TPN patients who need their TPN and nutrition to be checked and changed regularly.

  • Consultation Services:

We help other specialties when their patients have GI problems like jaundice, high liver enzymes, chronic diarrhea or vomiting, failure to thrive, or acute or chronic liver or pancreatic disease.

  • Daycare Unit:

The daycare unit provides regular intravenous therapy for scheduled diagnosed patients after a full assessment. For example, we provide albumin and Infliximab as needed.

  • Outpatient :

We provide 8 clinics per week at outpatient area to provide assessment for new referred or follow up patients.

  • Endoscopy :

In our Endoscopy unit, we provide four full time sessions per week to diagnose and treat GI problems. These procedures include:

  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

  • Colonoscopy

  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

  • Capsule endoscopy

  • Esophageal dilatation

  • Endoscopic variceal banding

  • 24-Hour pH Impedance

Pediatric Gastroenterology Annual Report (KPI):

In year 2020 Gastrointestinal team did a total of :

  • 172 EGDs

  • 58 Colonoscopies

  • 5 bandings sessions

  • 13 Esophageal dilatations

  • 22 Foreign body retrieval

  • 24 pH probe studies.

  • 650 consults.

  • 2432 patients despite Covid outbreak restrictions

Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinical Care Outcomes:

With the help of our Clinical Coordinator and Endoscopy staff, we could schedule Procedures quickly and efficiently, shortening the time between when the patient is seen in the clinic and when the Endoscopy is done. This led to earlier treatment and more satisfied patients and parents.

Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship Program:

Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition program is a 3-year program where the fellow rotates in different areas to achieve required competencies. It was established in King Abdulaziz Medical City in 1998. The program is accredited to accommodate 3 fellows every year.

The current cumber of Fellows is 7 ( 3 F1, 2 F2 and 2 F3).

Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Publications:

  1. Al Herbish A, Al Hawasi M, Al Zaben A “H,H,Z MCQs in Paediatrics ” 1st ed. ISBN:9960-27-437-3.1994

  2. Al Zaben A, Al Herbish A. Neurological Side Effect Associated With Unnecessary Use Of Metoclopramide In Children.. Annals of Saudi medicine, , 1995;15(2):183-184.

  3. Nadro A, Al Zaben A, Bilan M, A Baez-Giangreco Dubin Johnson Syndrome in A Saudi Neonate .. Annals of Saudi Medicine, Vol 16, No 6, 1996.

  4. Al Mohrij O, Al Zaben A, Al Rasheed S. Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children: Experience in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.. Saudi Journalof Kidney Diseases and Transplantation. Vol 7, No 3, 1996.

  5. Gorka W, Kagalwalla A, Mcparland BJ, Kagalwalla Y and Al Zaben A. Diagnostic Value of Doppler Ultrasound in the assessment of liver cirrosis in Children. J Clin Ultrasound, Vol 24,No 6, 1996.

  6. Burwinkel B, Shiomi S, Al Zaben A, Kilimann MW . Liver glycogenosis due to phosphorylase kinase deficiency: PHKG2 gene structure and mutations associated with cirrhosis.. Hum Mol Genet. 1998;7(1):149-54.

  7. Crankson S, Al Zaben A. Juvenile colorectal polyps in Children. Saudi Med J. 1998;19(2):145-147.

  8. Al Drees K, Al Zaben A, A Al Amir, A Abdulla . Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis in a Saudi child. Ann Trop Paediatr. 1999 Jun;19(2):215-7.

  9. Al Drees K, Abdullah A, Al Zaben A, Al Johani M. Turcot's syndrome in an Arab child. Trop Gastroenterol. 2000; 21(1):32-4.

  10. Al Zaben A, Al Mahout M, Al-Fakhery S. Bronchoscopy for Foreign Body Aspiration In Children. Curr Pedtr Res 2000; 4(1);13-16.

  11. Majumdar R, Al Jumah M, Al Rajeh S, Fraser M, Al Zaben A, et al . A novel deletion mutation witin the carboxyle terminus of the copper –transporting ATPase gene causes Wilsons disease. J Neurol Sci 2000(179);140-143.

  12. Al Alawi A, Crankson S, Abdullah A, Al Zaben A . Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia in Saudi Arabia : The Importance of early diagnosis and referral. Trop Gastroenterol. 2001; 22:20-22.

  13. Al Eissa YA, Al Zaben A, et al . Physician’s Perception of Fever in Children: Facts and Myths. Saudi Med. Journal 2001;22(2):124-8.

  14. Al Jumah M, Majumdar R, AlRajeh S, Awada A, Al Zaben A, Al Traif I, Al Jumah AR and Rehana Z. A clinical and genetic study of 56 Saudi Wilson disease patients:Identification of Saudi-specific mutations.Eur J Neurol. 2004;11(2):121-4.

  15. Crankson S, Al Salman MJ, Al Mane KA , Al Zaben AA. CT finding in A child with reflux eosophagitis. Trop Gastroenterol 2004;25(1):478.

  16. Al Furaikh S, Al Zaben AA. Recurrent small bowel intussusceptions: an uncommon presentation of celiac disease in an Arab child. Trop Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan-Mar;26(1):38-9.

  17. Hasosah MY, Sukkar GA, Alsahafi AF, Suzanne Y Kutbi SY, Abdullah A Alzaben AA, Jacobson K.. Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A retrospective analysis. Saudi Med J 2013 Jun;34(6):651-3

  18. Hasosah M, Telmesani A, Ali Al-Binali, Sarkhi A, Alghamdi S, Alquair K, Alturaiki M, Alanazi A, Alsahafi A,AlzabenA, Di Lorenzo C. Knowledge and practice styles of pediatricians in Saudi Arabia regarding childhood constipation. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 2013;57(1):85-92.

  19. El Mouzan MI, Saadah O, Al-Saleem K, Al Edreesi M, Hasosah M, Alanazi A, et al. Incidence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter national study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6):1085-90.

  20. Hasosah M, Satti M, Shehzad A, Alsahafi A, Sukkar G, Alzaben A, and others.Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Saudi children: a three-year prospective controlled study. Helicobacter 2015 11;20(1):56-63.

  21. Hasosah M , Bokhari A, Alsahafi A,Sukkar G, AlzabenA. Rare Association of Hepatitis A Virus Infection with Type-1 Diabetes. Clin Pract 2016.4;6(2):844.

  22. Hasosah M, Al-Saleem K, Qurashi M, AlzabenA. Neonatal Hyperthyroidism with Fulminant Liver Failure: A case Report.Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2017.11:SD01-02.

  23. Alfadhel M,AlSaif S, Alzaben A. Manual of Establishing a New Screening Program. ISBN:978-603-02-1864-4;2016

  24. AlzabenA. Celiac disease (in Arabic);ISBN: 978-603-03-650-9;2020.

  25. Alanazi A, Aldekhail W, Jewell L, L,Huynh, Hien Q, Multiple Large Gastric Ulcers as a Manifestation of Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Healthy Child

  26. Kambal MA, Al-Harbi DA, Al-Sunaid AR, Al-Atawi MS. Mitchell-Riley Syndrome Due to a Novel Mutation in RFX6. Front Pediatr. 2019;7:243.

  27. Vandenplas Y, Al-Hussaini B, Al-Mannaei K, Al-Sunaid A, Helmi Ayesh W, El-Degeir M, et al. Prevention of Allergic Sensitization and Treatment of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy in Early Life: The Middle-East Step-Down Consensus. Nutrients. 2019 Jun 26;11(7):E1444.

  28. Naeem, Mohammed & Abu-Abthan, Muhannad & Almasoud, Jude & Alkwai, Hala & Kazzaz, Yasser & Ferwana, Mazen. (2019). Exogenous surfactant use in acute lung injury and ards; more clear or cloudier-an updated meta-analysis. 79-86.

  29. Hazwani TR, Bin Obaid W, Alowirdi F, Alsomali R, Alali H, Alsadoon A, et al. Association between platelet count and multiorgan dysfunction and outcomes in patients with sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit in Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health. 2021 Nov;14(11):1585-9.

Pediatric Gastroenterology Leadership


Dr. Abdullah Al Zaben

Pediatric Gastroenterology Division Head
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