GI Treatments

Diagnostic & GI Treatments

Barrett’s Esophagus

In Barrett's esophagus, normal tissue lining the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, changes to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine. Barrett's esophagus develops as a consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease and can lead to cancer of the esophagus if untreated.

Radiofrequency ablation

During radiofrequency ablation treatment for Barrett's esophagus, an endoscope which is a thin tube, or catheter, is inserted down your esophagus. The catheter has a balloon at the end, with electrodes on the outer surface. The balloon is inflated so the electrodes are touching the abnormal tissue in the lining of the esophagus. The electrodes deliver enough energy to destroy thin layers of the diseased or abnormal tissue.

Cryotherapy ablation

Cryotherapy treatment for Barrett's Esophagus uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal cells. A thin tube, or catheter, is guided through an endoscope to the site of the abnormal cells. Your doctor sprays liquid nitrogen onto the tissue to freeze it and destroy the cells. Cryotherapy may be repeated a number of times, with a month or two in between treatments.

Biliary Stents

A biliary stent is a plastic or metal tube that is inserted into a bile duct to relieve narrowing of the duct (also called bile duct stricture). Biliary stenting is used to treat obstructions that occur in the bile ducts. Bile is a substance that helps to digest fats and is produced by the liver, secreted through the bile ducts, and stored in the gallbladder. The release of bile is controlled by a muscle called the sphincter of Oddi found at the junction of the bile ducts and the small intestine.

Gallbladder & Bile Duct Stones

Bile duct stones are gallstones in the bile duct. They can start in the gallbladder and migrate into the bile duct, or they can form in the bile duct itself. The stones can become lodged in the bile duct, causing a blockage, discomfort and pain. Lithotripsy is a relatively safe and effective treatment for selected difficult bile-duct and pancreatic-duct stones.

Cholangioscopy

Cholangioscopy is a procedure that treats stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts for patients who are not candidates for gallbladder removal. An endoscope is guided through your mouth and stomach, and into the biliary system where the doctor can explore biliary, liver and pancreatic ducts to locate the blockage or another problem area. Using various instruments in the endoscope, the doctor will break down and remove stones or collect a tissue sample (biopsy) to check for cancer.

Biliary Lithotripsy

Lithotripsy is a procedure that fragments stones. Focusing a high-powered laser light on the surface of a stone creates oscillation and waves that shatter the stone in the small pieces that the body can pass on its own. It is used to decrease the size of large or difficult-to-remove stones to facilitate their removal or passage from the biliary or pancreatic ducts, or to dislodge impacted stones. Lithotripsy may be performed by using laser devices at the time of endoscopy.

Biliary Stents

A biliary stent is a plastic or metal tube that is inserted into a bile duct to relieve narrowing of the duct (also called bile duct stricture). Biliary stenting is used to treat obstructions that occur in the bile ducts. Bile is a substance that helps to digest fats and is produced by the liver, secreted through the bile ducts, and stored in the gallbladder. The release of bile is controlled by a muscle called the sphincter of Oddi found at the junction of the bile ducts and the small intestine.

Colin Polyps

Colin polyps, which can lead to cancer if left unchecked, are detected during a colonscopy. They are easy to detect because they are shaped like a mushroom. The flat ones, however, are more deadly and can easily be missed if the colon is not cleaned properly before the procedure. These subtle flat lesions also require a special technique, called endoscopic mucosal resection, to remove them safely and completely.

Polypectomy & Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection is a very delicate endoscopic technique and non-surgical procedure to remove flat colon polyps. The flat lesion is first lifted from the colon by carefully injecting fluid into the colon wall underneath the lesion. The lesion is then carefully shaved off, along with superficial layers of colon, without damaging deeper layers. The final steps include cleaning the edges of any residual polyps and cauterizing any bleeding vessels.