Procedures
The following are descriptions of the gastroenterological procedures performed by our physicians:
Capsule Endoscopy
A capsule endoscopy uses a pill sized video camera that you swallow to examine the small intestine. This camera continuously takes pictures as it passes through your digestive tract, saving them to a small recording device for later evaluation.
Read More…Colonoscopy
During a colonoscopy, your doctor examines the lining of your colon by inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera (called a colonoscope) into your anus and advancing it into the rectum and large intestine.
Read More…Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
An ERCP is a test performed at Forsyth Medical Center by our physicians using an x-ray to look into the bile and pancreatic ducts. The doctor inserts an endoscope through the mouth into the duodenum and bile ducts. Dye is sent through the tube into the ducts.
This allows the ducts to show up on an x-ray. An ERCP is used to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks (from trauma and surgery) and cancer. You will be sedated, so you will need someone to drive you home from the hospital.
Read more…Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
An EUS is a test performed at Forsyth Medical Center by our physicians that allows your doctor to examine the lining and the walls of your upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The upper tract is the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; the lower tract includes your colon and rectum. An EUS is also used to study internal organs that lie next to the gastrointestinal tract, such as the gall bladder and pancreas. Your doctor will pass a thin, flexible tube (called an endoscope) through your mouth or anus to the area to be examined.
Your doctor then will turn on the ultrasound component to produce sound waves that create visual images of the digestive tract.
Read more…Fecal Microbiota Therapy (FMT)
Fecal Microbiology Therapy (FMT) is a therapy for recurrent and severe clostridium difficile infection (C-diff). C-diff is a bacteria that is present in the intestine of some individuals, and its problems can range from a mild illness with diarrhea to a severe life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization. Antibiotics are often able to control the infection, however with this course of treatment there is a very high recurrence rate and it can fail to eliminate the disease condition.
FMT can establish a colony of bacteria that more effectively suppresses C-diff. This process of “fecal donation” placing feces from another person into the intestine of patients with C-diff. To date, FMT has been very effective in patients who are acutely or chronically ill, as well as those who are not improving with traditional antibiotic therapy. In patients who have had 3 or more recurrences, the success rate is typically over 90%.
Read More…Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) / Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBT) and Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) detect even small amounts of blood in your bowel movements. They can be used to assist your physician in finding colorectal cancer.
In the form of take-home kits with instructions, they are simple to perform yourself in the privacy of your own home. The completed test is sent to a lab for testing, and the results are sent to your physician. If the results are positive, further testing (such as colonoscopy) may be necessary.FibroScan
FibroScan is a tool used for non-invasive examinations of your liver. It works by releasing a small pulse of energy to calculate the speed of energy as it travels through your liver and interprets that speed with two scores. The first score is a measure of your liver stiffness. The second score approximates liver fat. The combination of these scores gives your health care provider a better understanding of the overall health of your liver and how it changes over time with lifestyle or medical intervention.
To effectively get the readings, a water-based gel will be applied to the skin around the right side of the ribcage, and the non-invasive probe will be rubbed over the area, producing shear waves. This process feels like light taps on the skin.Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This lets your doctor examine the lining of the rectum and a portion of the colon (large intestine) by inserting a flexible tube about the thickness of your finger into the anus and slowly advancing it into the rectum and lower part of the colon.
Read more…Hemorrhoid Banding
Hemorrhoid banding offers a quick, non-surgical, office-based solution to internal hemorrhoids.
Read more…Orbera Weight Loss Balloon
Orbera is a non-surgical, FDA approved procedure to assist those who have struggled to lose weight. It consists of a soft, durable balloon designed to occupy space comfortably in the stomach, causing a feeling of fullness and therefore encouraging portion control. Along with the placement of the balloon, patients are paired with a team of experts to help them with a customized diet and exercise plan to fit their lifestyle.
By following the given treatment plan, patients are expected to lose an average of three times the weight they would without the assistance of Orbera.
Read more…Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
A PEG insertion is a procedure beneficial for patients who have long-term nutritional requirements and cannot take food by mouth. A flexible feeding tube is inserted through the abdominal wall and into the stomach. This allows liquid nutrition products and medications to be put directly into the stomach, bypassing the esophagus. The tube may be temporary or permanent depending on the patient’s condition.
The procedure is performed at Forsyth Medical Center by our physicians.
Read more…Percutaneous Liver Biopsy
This is a procedure which is very well tolerated and is valuable in the diagnosis and management of liver disease. The biopsy involves taking a tiny specimen of liver tissue with a needle. It is performed at Forsyth Medical Center by our physicians.
Read more…Small Bowel Enteroscopy
Involves inserting a flexible scope (called an endoscope) through the mouth, down the esophagus (throat) and through the stomach so that the physician can examine the middle part of the GI tract – the area of the small intestine which lies between the stomach and the lower part of the small intestine. Problems that may occur in this area include celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcers, intestinal obstruction and cancer.
Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
Allows the physician to see the upper GI tract including the esophagus, stomach and the duodenum using a thin, lighted, flexible tube (called an endoscope). This procedure is used to evaluate difficulty swallowing, upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or to detect inflammation, ulcers, or tumors in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. During the procedure, the physician may take tissue samples for biopsy or collect cells for analysis.
The procedure also can be used to treat certain upper GI conditions by removing polyps and stopping some types of bleeding.
Read more…Upper Endoscopy (EGD) with Esophageal Dilation
A procedure that allows your doctor to dilate (stretch) a narrowed area of your esophagus. Doctors can use various techniques for this procedure. Your doctor might perform the procedure as part of a sedated endoscopy. Alternatively, your doctor might apply a local anesthetic spray to the back of your throat and then pass a weighted dilator through your mouth and into your esophagus.
Read more…