Gastroenterology

Our GI diagnostic imaging and tests use innovative technologies that make your experience easier and diagnosis more accurate. Our objective is to tailor our diagnostic testing to your unique condition and use those results to inform treatment. Additionally, we offer routine testing for conditions that can become more prevalent is you get older.

Some of our common diagnostic gastric tests include:

• 24-hour pH, including with impedance
• Anorectal testing, including ultrasound
• Biofeedback
• Breath testing
• Capsule endoscopy
• Capsule esophageal pH test
• Dilatation, including esophageal, pyloric/gastric and biliary
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasonography
• Esophageal manometry
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• GI bleeding scans
• GI series, both upper and lower
• Paracentesis
• Polypectomy, both upper and lower
• Pudendal nerve test
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Small bowel enteroscopy
• Sponge myography
• Variceal sclerosis and banding

Colon cancer screening (colonoscopy)

While colon cancer may be one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the U.S., it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. A colonoscopy, the most commonly performed GI procedure, is used to detect colon cancer and other diseases at the earliest and most treatable stages. It uses a small camera to view the inside of your colon and rectum.

We offer both traditional and virtual colonoscopies, which examine the colon with low dose computerized tomography (CT).

Gastric conditions, including everything from heartburn to GI cancers, can often be treated with minimally invasive procedures at our hospitals. Using laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic approaches, we can offer you shorter recoveries and enhanced outcomes.

Some of the minimally invasive procedures we offer include:

• Appendectomy
• Cholecystectomy
• Colon resection
• Cricopharyngeal myotomy
• Esophageal dilation
• Esophageal submucosal dissection (ESD) or esophageal mucosal resection (EMR)
• Gastrectomy
• Gastric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM)
• Heller myotomy
• Hernia repairs
• Per oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (POP)
• Pyloroplasty
• Radiofrequency ablation

GERD is caused by a progressive failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscular sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. The muscle is supposed to relax to let food into the stomach after a swallow, then close to prevent any stomach contents from refluxing back into the lower esophagus. If you are experiencing GERD, the LES starts to fail, allowing acid into the lower esophagus.

In doing so, it is common to experience heartburn, excessive throat clearing, hoarseness, burping, chronic cough or asthma. If left untreated, long-term symptoms and complications of GERD can include inflammation, bleeding and scarring of the esophagus. It can also lead to esophageal stricture, dental problems, asthma attacks, Barrett’s Esophagus and, in a very small percentage of patients, esophageal cancer.

Nonsurgical treatments for GERD

We understand how stressful surgery can be, so whenever possible, we will always prioritize nonsurgical treatments. When it comes to GERD, your primary care physician or gastroenterologist may first recommend lifestyle changes. These include losing weight — for which they may ultimately recommend bariatric surgery — or quitting smoking — for which they may recommend a smoking cessation program.

If lifestyle changes are ineffective, your physicians may recommend or prescribe medications, such as over-the-counter antacids, or prescription H2-blockers and proton pump inhibitors. These medications do not stop reflux from happening, but they can help manage the symptoms.

If lifestyle and medication interventions are not successful in reducing or eliminating your symptoms, a surgical option may be right for you.

Incisionless GERD surgery

Minimally invasive, incisionless acid reflux surgery (transoral reconstructive surgery) permanently corrects the anatomical cause of GERD. Along with the benefits typically associated with other minimally invasive surgeries, this surgery is highly effective at eliminating heartburn by accessing your digestive system through your mouth. While doing so, surgeons can reconstruct a durable anti-reflux valve and tighten the lower esophageal sphincter.

Surgical treatments for GERD

When surgery is necessary, the severity of your surgery will ultimately depend on the severity of your condition. Similar to our preference for nonsurgical treatments, our GERD specialists use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible, which offer you less pain, a faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay, if required.

Some of the surgeries we use to treat GERD include:

• Biliary drainage
• Hiatal hernia repair
• Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication
• Magnetic sphincter augmentation
• Radiofrequency reconstruction of esophagus
• Transoral incisionless fundoplication