Procedures
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is advised for all patients, age 50 and older, as a method of color cancer screening. The procedure is performed using a colonoscope, a long flexible tube that permits visualization of the lining of the large bowel. The instrument is inserted via the rectum and guided through the length of the colon. if the doctor sees a suspicious area, a biopsy can be done to make a diagnosis.
Upper GI Endoscopy (EGD)
Upper GI endoscopy is a visual examination of the upper intestinal tract using a lighted, flexible, fiber-optic endoscope. The upper gastrointestinal tract begins with the mouth and continues with the esophagus, which carries food to the stomach. The stomach secretes a potent acid and churns food into small particles. The food then enters the duodenum, or small bowel, where bile from the liver and digestive fluid from the pancreas mix to help the digestive process.
Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy is a procedure that allows video to be taken of the GI tract as a pill, containing a miniaturized camera, which passes through your digestive system over the course of eight hours. The pill transmits images wirelessly at a rate of two frames per second to a portable computer worn on your belt; focusing primarily on the 20 or so feet of small bowel that can’t be easily reached by either an endoscope or colonoscope.