The hepatobiliary surgical program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is one of the premier programs for complex pediatric hepatobiliary (liver and bile tract) surgery in the world.
Our surgical team has pioneered surgical techniques including the Rex shunt and Abernethy malformation ligation. We have performed over 300 Rex shunt surgeries on patients from all over the world and trained dozens of surgeons on the techniques. Our multidisciplinary approach includes hepatobiliary surgeons, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, oncologists and advanced nurse practitioners who work together in a collaborative approach to tailor interventions to the unique medical needs of each patient.
The Hepatobiliary Surgical Program has performed Rex shunt surgeries on children from across the nation and 14 countries.
Conditions We Treat
We treat a wide range of complex liver-related conditions, including:
- Portal hypertension
- Portal vein thrombosis
- Portal hypertension from liver disease
- Portal hypertension from venous outflow problems
- Congenital vascular malformations
- Congenital portosystemic shunts (Abernethy Malformation)
- Congenital and acquired arterio-venous malformations
- Congenital and infantile hepatic hemangiomas
- Advanced Biliary Tract Surgery
- Biliary Atresia
- Alagille Syndrome
- Familial cholestatic diseases
- Choledochal cyst
- Liver Tumors
Hepatobiliary Surgeons & Specialists
Surgical Team
Riccardo A. Superina, MD
Dr. Superina is a world-renowned authority in the field of pediatric liver, kidney and intestinal transplantation and an internationally recognized expert in the surgical treatment of complex hepatobiliary conditions, pancreatic disease and endocrine tumors.
Because pediatric transplantation requires rigorous subspecialty training beyond traditional residency and fellowship, Dr. Superina is one of only a handful of pediatric surgeons in the United States with the depth of expertise and scope of training to perform highly specialized transplantation procedures of the intra-abdominal organs in children. Dr. Superina is a leading expert on the a procedure known as the meso-rex bypass, or Rex shunt, a complex liver surgery used to restore venous circulation in a rare condition known as pediatric portal vein hypertension. He has performed more than 200 such procedures — the largest pediatric case series in the world.
Lisa Keys, APRN-NP
Lisa Keys is a pediatric nurse practitioner within the Division of Transplant and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery.
Nursing Support
Research Team
Katherine Brandt, MS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Claire Sandler
Clinical Research Coordinator
Office Staff
Ryan Genson
Office Coordinator
Johanna Mishra
Senior Director, Transplant Services
Renee Shores
Practice Manager
Make an Appointment
Call to to make a referral or contact our Comprehensive Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgery Program.
Hepatobiliary Surgical Program Patient Stories
Our multidisciplinary team has improved the lives of children enduring cancerous liver tumors and other complex congenital liver and kidney conditions. Here are some of their stories.
Haytham Doing Better Than Ever Following Liver Transplant From Altruistic Donor
Two-year-old Haytham had already overcome many challenges in his young life and needed a liver transplant. One altruistic stranger was a match.
Anne Marie finds hope in Chicago with ‘Dr. Superman’ for rare condition
Anne Marie’s family traveled to Chicago from Alabama to see a specialist for a unique condition she shares with just a few dozen people in the world: the Abernethy malformation.
At Lurie Children’s, Surgeon Offers a Cure for Baby with Rare Liver Disorder
After a “nine-day rollercoaster” of bloodwork, biopsies and other tests, Griffin was diagnosed with a rare condition known as portal vein thrombosis.
Fresh Air: Lurie Children’s Surgeon Helps Florida Boy Breathe on His Own
Liam’s energy and smarts delight his family because just two years earlier, he couldn’t breathe without supplemental oxygen as he faced a daunting diagnosis.
Maddy Ray: An Inspiration for Those Fighting Hepatoblastoma
Luke and Katie’s world got turned upside down when their six-month old baby girl, Maddy Ray, was diagnosed with a hepatoblastoma.