General Gastroenterology Services

Our board-certified specialists provide a comprehensive menu of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to diagnose and treat a broad range of routine and complex adult and pediatric digestive diseases including disorders of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small bowel, colon and rectum. Our state-of-the-art endoscopy suites offer cutting-edge technology and dedicated endoscopy staff to ensure delivery of optimal patient care.

Upper GI Endoscopy is also known as EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy. After you have received sedation, your doctor passes a special endoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera on its end, through your mouth to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach and the first portion of the small intestine (duodenum). Our doctors use state of the art, high-definition upper endoscopes to view images on a video screen. During the test, tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken and analyzed by the lab for further diagnosis. Bleeding areas also may be identified and treated through the endoscope.

Colonoscopy: After you have received sedation, the doctor gently inserts a colonoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera on its end, into your rectum and guides it through the entire large intestine (colon) checking for polyps or other signs of cancerous growth. Images of the colon are viewed on a video screen. Polyps and other tissue samples may be removed and analyzed by the lab for further diagnosis. For individuals at average risk average risk for developing colorectal cancer, we recommend you undergo this procedure every ten years, beginning at age 50.

Colonoscopy is the only test that allows your doctor to see the entire colon and rectum and remove tissue that needs to be looked at by the lab. If something suspicious is found using any other screening tests, you will likely need a colonoscopy for follow up testing.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: During this test, the doctor gently inserts a thin, lighted flexible tube (colonoscope) into your rectum and guides it through only the lower part of the large intestine (colon) checking for polyps or other signs of cancerous growth. Images of the colon are viewed on a video screen. The American Cancer Society recommends this procedure every five years. If polyps or other abnormalities are identified, you will likely need a colonoscopy for further testing.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is an upper GI endoscopic procedure in which a flexible feeding tube is placed through the abdominal wall and into the stomach. A PEG is placed in order to provide adequate nutrition, fluids and / or medication to patients who are having trouble swallowing.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy (PEJ) is like a PEG procedure, except the flexible feeding tube is placed into the intestine (jejunum) instead of the stomach.

Hydrogen Breath Test is a simple non-invasive diagnostic test that provides information about the digestion of certain sugars or carbohydrates, such as milk sugar (lactose) or fruit sugar (fructose). The test is also used for detecting abnormal growth of bacteria within the small bowel which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal cramps.

Capsule Endoscopy most commonly searches for causes of bleeding in the small intestine, a part of the bowel that cannot be seen by an upper endoscope or colonoscope. Patients swallow a tiny, capsule-sized video camera that takes pictures as it passes through the small intestine. The pictures are sent to a recording device worn on the patient’s body, which the doctor then reviews.

Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) also known as stool transplantation, is a procedure in which stool from a healthy donor is placed into another patient’s intestine for the purpose of treating debilitating gastrointestinal infections, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff). FMT restores the balance of healthy bacteria and helps clear the infection.