Gastroenterology:
Screening & Procedures
Gastrointestinal endoscopy is the examination of the digestive
tract with a flexible, lighted instrument called a "scope".
This enables the physicians to directly visualize the esophagus,
stomach, portions of the small intestine, and the colon. In this
way, your physician can more accurately diagnose and treat diseases
of the digestive system. Also, through these "scopes" a
physician can take biopsies, dilate narrowed areas called strictures
and remove polyps, which are growths in the digestive tract.
Some of the more common conditions that can be diagnosed and
treated
are gastro-esophageal reflux, ulcers, Crohn's disease and ulcerative
colitis.
Capsule Endoscopy - An innovative
non-invasive procedure, to diagnose and treat patients with gastrointestinal
disorders of the small intestine such as Crohn’s disease,
celiac disease, gastro-intestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel
disease, small bowel tumors and NSAID related injuries. With
a miniature camera on one end, the PillCam™ SB video
capsule enables physicians to visualize the
entire length of the 21-foot-long small intestine. This procedure
is a non-invasive diagnostic alternative to traditional endoscopy.
In the PillCam Capsule Endoscopy procedure, a patient will fast
for ten hours before taking the PillCam SB with a glass of water.
The capsule glides down the GI track taking approximately 50,000
images of the small bowel. These images are transmitted to and
then stored on a recorder belt worn by the patient for an eight
hour period. Upon completion, the physician views the images to
make a diagnosis.
Capsule Endoscopy Patient Instructions
Colonoscopy: This
procedure looks at the colon and at times the terminal ileum
(part of the small intestine that enters the colon).
It can detect causes of bleeding (polyps, tumors and others),
causes of diarrhea (colitis) and other colon problems. Polyps
can be removed
during the procedure or biopsies (tissue samples) made to assist
in determining the cause of colon problems.
Preparing for your Procedure
Colonoscopy Prep Forms:
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): This
procedure looks into the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to find
the cause of upper abdominal pain and other problems. Biopsies
(tissue samples) may be obtained to detect tumors or to detect
the bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) that is often associated with
ulcers. The test can be indicated to find the cause of bleeding,
dyspepsia (indigestion and heartburn), swallowing problems, nausea
and vomiting and other conditions.
Printable EGD Form
Preparing for your Procedure
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: This procedure is similar to colonoscopy,
but only looks at the lower 1/3 of the colon of the colon. As a more
limited examination, it is often used as a screening procedure for
less serious colon related problems.
Esophageal Dilatation: This procedure can open narrowing of the esophagus
(a stricture) caused by esophagitis that leads to difficulty swallowing
solid foods. |
