ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES
Upper Endoscopy (EGD) - Upper endoscopy enables the physician to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The procedure might be used to discover the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, infection, tumors, indigestion, abdominal pain, or chest pain. Upper endoscopy is also called EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (eh-SAH-fuh-goh-GAS-troh-doo-AH-duh-NAH-skuh-pee).
Colonoscopy - A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that visually examines the entire colon with a videoscope. The inside of the colon is then examined for any abnormalities that may exist. During this procedure, polyps may be safely removed.
Colon Cancer Screening- (also referred to as colorectal cancer) is preventable and curable, but in the beginning there are no symptoms. If colon cancer is caught in its earliest stages, it can be cured 90 to 100% of the time. Prevention is also possible. Colorectal cancer can be prevented through proper diet and removal of pre-cancerous growths, called polyps . Flexible sigmoidoscopy (SIG-moy-DAH-skuh-pee) enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine, from the rectum through the last part of the colon, called the sigmoid -- or descending colon. Physicians may use the procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use it to look for early signs of cancer in the descending colon and rectum. With flexible sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers in the descending colon and rectum. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is not sufficient to detect polyps or cancer in the ascending or transverse colon (two-thirds of the colon).
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography - (en-doh-SKAH-pik REH-troh-grayd koh-LAN-jee-oh-PANG-kree-uh-TAH-gruh-fee) (ERCP) enables the physician to diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. The liver is a large organ that, among other things, makes a liquid called bile that helps with digestion. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile until it is needed for digestion. The bile ducts are tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. These ducts are sometimes called the biliary tree. The pancreas is a large gland that produces chemicals that help with digestion and hormones such as insulin.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy- (SIG-moy-DAH-skuh-pee) enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine, from the rectum through the last part of the colon, called the sigmoid -- or descending colon. Physicians may use the procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use it to look for early signs of cancer in the descending colon and rectum. With flexible sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers in the descending colon and rectum. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is not sufficient to detect polyps or cancer in the ascending or transverse colon (two-thirds of the colon).
Liver biopsy (BYE-op-see), physician examines a small piece of tissue from your liver for signs of damage or disease. A special needle is used to remove the tissue from the liver. The physician decides to do a liver biopsy after tests suggest that the liver does not work properly. For example, a blood test might show that your blood contains higher than normal levels of liver enzymes or too much iron or copper. An x-ray could suggest that the liver is swollen. Looking at liver tissue itself is the best way to determine whether the liver is healthy or what is causing it to be damaged.
ADVANCED ENDOSCOPIC TECHNIQUES
Virtual Colonoscopy- Many people just are not comfortable with the idea of a traditional colonoscopy. If you just can’t bring yourself to have one, virtual colonoscopy may be just the ticket for you.
Virtual colonoscopy- (VC) uses x-rays and computers to produce two- and three-dimensional images of the colon (large intestine) from the lowest part (the rectum) all the way to the lower end of the small intestine, and displays them on a computer screen. We can use this procedure to diagnose colon and bowel disease, including polyps, diverticulosis, and cancer. At SummitScan, we use a high-speed, multi-slice CT scanner (computed tomography), sometimes called a CAT scan, to perform virtual colonoscopies in just a few short minutes.
Capsule Endoscopy- is a revolutionary new technology that gives our physicians a non-invasive, office-based alternative for viewing the inside of your esophagus. In many cases, instead of undergoing an upper endoscopy – which involves general sedation – you can simply swallow a wireless video camera about the size of a large vitamin. As it travels down your esophagus and into your stomach, the capsule records images and transmits them to a recording device. About 20 minutes later, your doctor will have enough images to make an evaluation