Screening & Procedures
 Endoscopy
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 Instruction Handout
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
If you are not sure which instructions to follow, please contact us at (479) 582-7299.
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.
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.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (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.
ERCP is used primarily to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks (from trauma and surgery), and cancer. ERCP combines the use of x rays and an endoscope, which is a long, flexible, lighted tube. Through the endoscope, the physician can see the inside of the stomach and duodenum, and inject dyes into the ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas so they can be seen on x rays. If the exam shows a gallstone or narrowing of the ducts, the physician can insert instruments into the scope to remove or relieve the obstruction. Also, tissue samples (biopsy) can be taken for further testing.
ERCP takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. You may have some discomfort when the physician blows air into the duodenum and injects the dye into the ducts. However, the pain medicine and sedative should keep you from feeling too much discomfort. The physician will make sure you do not have signs of complications before you leave.
Preparation Your stomach and duodenum must be empty for the procedure to be accurate and safe. You will not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure, or for 6 to 8 hours beforehand, depending on the time of your procedure. Also, the physician will need to know whether you have any allergies, especially to iodine, which is in the dye. You must also arrange for someone to take you home—you will not be allowed to drive because of the sedatives. The physician may give you other special instructions.
> Return to Digestive Care
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