Innovative Care, Close to Home
Interventional Gastroenterology is an area of expertise that uses state-of-the-art endoscopic procedures to diagnose and manage disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, bile ducts and pancreas. Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of a thin, flexible tube (or scope) that has a camera and light at its tip. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth or rectum, and allows the physician to see inside the body. Endoscopes have long been used to examine the digestive tract and help diagnose digestive disorders. Now, advances enable physicians not only to diagnose using endoscopy, but also treat certain disorders directly. These innovative techniques provide patients with a nonsurgical treatment option.
St. Joseph’s Health is a leader in using innovative endoscopic techniques and sophisticated tools to effectively diagnosis and treat a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders. Our interventional gastroenterology specialists combine technical expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and advanced imaging techniques to provide minimally invasive solutions, helping our patients avoid surgery or more invasive medical procedures. Our advanced techniques offer excellent outcomes with less pain, less time in the hospital, fewer complications, and faster recovery. Our specialists perform these complex procedures in a sophisticated endoscopy suite that uses the most up-to-date technology. We work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and best meets your needs.
Conditions We Treat
St. Joseph’s Health offers advanced endoscopy to diagnose and treat:
- Achalasia
- Barrett’s Esophagus
- Colon polyps
- Digestive Diseases and Cancers
- Dysphasia (swallowing disorders)
- Esophageal Cancer
- Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases
- Gallstone
- Gastric Outlet Obstruction
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Pancreatic and Bile Duct Stones
- Pancreatic diseases
- Pancreatitis
- Reflux
- Stomach cancer
- Strictures
- Submucosal lesions
- Zenker’s Diverticulum
Advanced Treatment Options
Our expert interventional gastroenterologists are skilled in performing a wide variety of effective, specialized procedures that can treat or diagnose conditions in a minimally invasive manner. These procedures include:
- Biliary endoscopy (cholangioscopy)
- Choledochoscopy and pancreatoscopy to directly visualize, detect, and treat problems in the biliary tracts
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to treat problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts.
- Endoscopic stricturotomy and fistulotomy in complicated IBD patients
- Endoscopic suturing to help enclosing defects throughout gastrointestinal tract
- Endoscopic tissue resection, including edoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), for removal of cancerous or precancerous growths (polyps) on the lining of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel, and rectum
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for evaluation and staging of tumors and fine-needle aspiration
- Enteroscopy for examination of the small bowel
- Lumen apposing metal stents (LAMS) in the treatment of pancreatic fluid collections
- Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) to treat swallowing disorders such as achalasia
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for bile duct cancer
- Radiofrequency ablation to destroy abnormal cells on the surface of the gastrointestinal tract
- Stenting of different gastrointestinal organs for treatment of narrowing or blockages of the esophagus, stomach and bowel
- Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) a minimally invasive procedure for the management of acid reflux
