Polypectomy

Sometimes tissue cells in your child’s gastrointestinal tract (including the esophagus [food pipe], stomach, small intestine, large intestine and colon) can grow abnormally and form a polyp. A polyp is a round lump of tissue that can sometimes cause pain, bleeding or obstruction. Most polyps in children are non-cancerous (benign), but it’s often a good idea to remove them—and the procedure is most often quick and painless, too.

The removal of a polyp is called a polypectomy, and depending on where your child’s polyp is located, this may be performed during one of two procedures:

• upper endoscopy
• lower endoscopy, also known as a colonoscopy. 

Polypectomies at Children’s Hospital Boston

Here at Children’s, polypectomies are performed by the experienced clinicians of our Gastroenterology Procedure Unit (GPU)—a full-service unit providing an array of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures in a safe, comfortable environment.

Offering more than the typical gastroenterology (GI) endoscopy center, our specialists provide world-renowned care to children with gastrointestinal, pancreatic and hepatobiliary disorders. Our team includes 19 attending physicians, 12 nurses and 6 endoscopy technicians who support the day-to-day practice of the unit. We also assist in the care of children with life-threatening cases in other areas of the hospital, such as the intensive care and surgical units, using our portable equipment. All nurses and physicians are certified in pediatric advanced life support (PALS).

Polypectomy: Reviewed by Michael Manfredi, MD

© Children’s Hospital Boston, 2011