Gastroenterology

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Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine (colon), liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Each member of this department is board certified in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Internal Medicine. Frequently, a Gastroenterologist is called in cases of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, or change in bowel habits when the diagnosis is unclear or where specialized diagnostic procedures are necessary.

Special procedures called endoscopy are performed by our doctors for either diagnostic and/or screening purposes. Gastroscopes are used to study diseases of the upper GI system and colonoscopy is limited to the lower bowel and at times the very last portion of the small bowel, called the ilium. For difficult to diagnose problems of the small bowel, our specialists have new technology that allows you to swallow a capsule that then transmits and records images of the small bowel that can then be studied.

Colon cancer prevention screening is recommended for at risk individuals (based upon family history) by age 45 or ten years prior to the age of discovery of colon cancer in a first order relative, but no later than age 50. Routine screening is recommended for individuals without a colon cancer history starting at age 50 and then repeated every 10 years, provided that there have been no polyps identified. If you have a history of polyps then your screening itervals will vary annd shhould be discuussed with your doctor.

• Diagnostic Colonoscopy
• Colonoscopic Colon Polyp Removal
• Gastroscopic Stomach Evaluation
• Gastroscopic Pancreatic Evaluations
• Hepatic (liver) disorders