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Capitola Cass Munras Ryan Ranch SalinasGastroenterology is the study of the function and diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. It involves a detailed understanding of the movement of material through the stomach and intestine, the digestion and absorption of nutrients into the body, removal of waste from the system, and the function of the liver as a digestive organ.
MPSC offers the following gastroenterological procedures:
Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). He or she uses a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope to look at the colon. A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. During a colonoscopy, doctors look for precancerous polyps that may exist in the colon. This usually involves placing a tool with a camera on one end inside the patient through the rectum to look at the entire large intestine and part of the small intestine.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it is one of the most curable forms of cancer when detected early. Routine colonoscopies reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by as much as 40 percent.
A traditional colonoscopy requires sedation and the use of a six-foot scope. A minimally invasive procedure – also known as a virtual colonoscopy – involves placing a small tube in the rectum to inflate the colon. An insufflator then injects air or carbon dioxide into the colon to enlarge it.
Imaging software creates two and three dimensional images of the colon. If a polyp is found, the gastroenterologist can remove it for evaluation. If bleeding is found, the doctor can seal the necessary areas.
The entire procedure takes about one hour.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a diagnostic procedure that allows the physician to diagnose and treat problems in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. The doctor uses a long, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope. The endoscope is guided through the patient’s mouth and throat, then through the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The doctor can examine the inside of these organs and detect abnormalities.
An EGD may be performed to diagnose structural or functional abnormalities. These abnormalities include:
Generally, the patient lies on his or her left side on the X-ray table with the head bent forward. Numbing medication is sprayed into the back of the throat to prevent gagging as the endoscope is passed down the throat into the stomach. A mouth guard is put in place to keep the patient from biting down on the endoscope.
Once the throat is numbed and the patient is sufficiently relaxed from the sedative, the physician will ask the patient to swallow the endoscope. By using the endoscope’s camera system, the doctor will guide the endoscope down the esophagus and through the stomach.
