An upper GI endoscopy looks at the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus, the stomach and the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries the food to the stomach and small intestine for digestion. The stomach is a reservoir of food where the initial digestion process begins. The intestine is where the digestive enzymes process a meal and nutrients are absorbed.

The gastroenterologist uses an endoscope, a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end to help guide the scope throughout the duration of the procedure. The camera on the end helps the physician both guide the endoscope throughout the length of the upper GI tract, and take pictures. Gastroenterologists commonly perform this procedure as a way to evaluate and diagnose various problems, such as chronic heartburn (acid reflux), difficulty swallowing, stomach or abdominal pain, bleeding, ulcers and tumors.

The patient remains comfortable during the procedure with the help of intravenous sedation (anesthesia). The drug enables the patient to remain pain and comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

The procedure normally takes 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, the patient waits in the recovery room while the anesthetic wears off. Once the medication dissipates, the patient may feel soreness in the back of the throat. Due to the lingering effects from the sedation, the patient cannot drive or work for the remainder of the day, and therefore must have a ride home.

The colon, also known as the large bowel, is the last portion of your gastrointestinal tract. It starts at the cecum, which is connected to your small intestine, and ends at your rectum. The colon is a hollow tube, measuring four feet in length on average, and its main function is to store food byproducts prior to their elimination. A colonoscope is used to examine the colon in a procedure known as a colonoscopy. A colonoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a video camera and light at its end. The gastroenterologist will put a little bit of air into the colon as the scope is advanced. The camera on the end helps the physician both guide the colonoscope throughout the length of the colon and take pictures of the colon.

This procedure also allows other instruments to be passed through the colonoscope. For example, forceps may be used to painlessly remove a suspicious looking growth for analysis. During the colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist can remove polyps with a procedure called “polypectomy”. In this way, a colonoscopy may help to avoid surgery or better determine what kind of surgery needs to be performed.

Colonoscopies are most commonly performed in colorectal cancer screening and prevention. It is also increasingly used to evaluate problems such as blood loss, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.

Patients remain comfortable throughout the procedure with the help of intravenous sedation. The drugs enable the patients to remain awake but comfortable throughout. The air introduced into the colon may cause cramping and feeling of fullness.

A colonoscopy typically takes about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the patient is moved to a recovery room while the anesthetic wears off. Patients should not drive or work for the remainder of the day, and, must, therefore have a ride home. All feelings of bloating and cramping should fade within 24 hours.

Capsule endoscopy allows examination of the entire small intestine by ingesting a vitamin-pill sized video capsule with its own camera and light source (a pill with a video camera built into it). During the eight-hour exam, the patient is free to move about. While the video capsule travels through the body, it sends images to a data recorder on a waist belt worn by the patient. Afterwards the doctor will view the images on a video monitor.

Capsule endoscopy helps determine the cause for recurrent or persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding or anemia undiagnosed by other techniques including endoscopy, colonoscopy and x-rays. In certain chronic gastrointestinal diseases, this method can also help to evaluate the extent to which the small intestine is involved or monitor the effect of therapy.

This procedure is performed by inserting a tube through the nose to measure the level of acid reflux and contractions of the esophagus. We recommend this procedure to work up sever cases of acid reflux and difficulty swallowing.

Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows the physician to examine the inside of the sigmoid colon. The colon, also known as the large bowel, is the last portion of your gastrointestinal tract. The sigmoid is the section of the colon closest to the rectum and anus. The colon, a hollow tube, measures four feet in length, 20 inches of which is the sigmoid colon. The function of the sigmoid colon, like the remainder of the colon is to store food byproducts until its elimination. Flexible sigmoidoscopies are most commonly performed to evaluate problems such as blood loss, pain and changes in bowel habits.

The procedure normally takes 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, the patient may drive home and resume normal activities if sedation was not used for the procedure.

During an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, the gastroenterologist uses an endoscope, a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end, through the esophagus, the stomach, and the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Once the endoscope reaches the papilla, which is the opening of the common bile duct, the physician injects dye through these ducts, enabling x-rays to be taken.

Bile, a liquid that helps digest fat, is produced by the liver and carried to the gallbladder, where it is stored, through a series of tubes called ducts. The main duct from the pancreas joins the common bile duct and allows pancreatic juices to help with further digestion in the duodenum. After eating, both bile and pancreatic juices flow through the papilla and into the duodenum, where they mix with food and play a major role in digestion.

A physician may recommend an ERCP if the patient is experiencing abdominal pain or develops jaundice (yellowing of the eyes). This procedure is helpful in identifying gallstones, tumors or scar tissue obstructing the bile duct. After using x-ray imaging to discover the nature of the obstruction, the endoscopist is usually able to clear the ducts. This is done by cutting open the papilla and then either pushing or pulling the stone out, or by inserting a device, such as an inflatable balloon, to help stretch scar tissue.

The patient remains comfortable during the procedure with the help of IV sedation. The drugs will enable the patient to remain semi-conscious throughout the procedure, but usually prevent the patient from remembering the experience.

The procedure normally takes about 40 minutes. Afterwards, the patient waits in the recovery room while the anesthetic wears off. Soreness in the back of the throat is not uncommon once the anesthesia dissipates. Due to the lingering effects from the sedation, the patient cannot drive or work for the remainder of the day, and therefore must have a ride home.

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