COLONOSCOPY

A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which the inside of the large intestine (colon and rectum) is examined. A colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube that is moved through your colon. The procedure is viewed on a video screen. If necessary during a colonoscopy, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and entirely removed.

A colonoscopy is commonly used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as rectal and intestinal bleeding, anemia, diarrhea or changes in bowel habits. Colonoscopies are also performed in individuals without symptoms to check for colorectal polyps or cancer. A screening colonoscopy is recommended for anyone 45 years of age and older, and for anyone with parents, siblings or children with a history of colorectal cancer.

To have a successful colonoscopy, your bowel must be empty so that your doctor can clearly view the colon. It is very important that you read and follow all of the instructions given to you for your bowel preparation well in advance of the procedure. If your bowel is not empty, your colonoscopy will not be successful and may have to be repeated.

Please refer to How to Prep Procedures at our website for information. If you have any questions regarding your preparation, you can use our Secure Messaging Portal or should contact our office staff.

A nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist will give you medication through a vein to make you relaxed and sleepy. The procedure usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Recovery time is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

You must have a responsible person accompany you and drive you home after your procedure. You may not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours following the test.

 

EGD (UPPER ENDOSCOPY)

An EGD (upper Endoscopy) is an outpatient procedure in which the upper intestinal tract is examined using a flexible endoscope. The upper intestinal tract includes the esophagus, stomach and the duodenum. The procedure is viewed on a video screen. If necessary, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and entirely removed.

An EGD is commonly used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as anemia, reflux (GERD), abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, Barrett's esophagus, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), blood in stool and change in bowel habits.

Please refer to How to Prep Procedures at our website for information. If you have any questions regarding your preparation, you can use our Secure Messaging Portal or should contact our office staff.

A nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist will give you medication through a vein to make you relaxed and sleepy. The endoscope is inserted through the mouth. The scope will not interfere with your breathing. The procedure usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. Recovery time is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

You must have a responsible person accompany you and drive you home after your procedure. You may not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours following the test.

 

HEMORRHOID BANDING

Hemorrhoid banding is an outpatient procedure in which an internal hemorrhoid is tied off at its base with rubber bands, cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid. Our physicians use the CRH O'Regan System to band hemorrhoids at South Hills Endoscopy Center. For more information on the CRH O'Regan System visit http://www.crhsystem.com/crh-oregan-system/.

 

ERCP (ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAM)

This procedure is used to view the common bile duct, pancreatic duct, pancreas and liver. ERCP is used to help locate and treat blockages in the ducts. This exam is done operating room with the use of x-ray equipment. During this exam a narrow scope is placed into your throat and advanced through your upper gastrointestinal tract into the opening of the common bile duct. One of the most common blockages are gallstones. Often they can be removed during ERCP with the use of a catheter that is inserted through the scope. ERCP can also be used to evaluate pancreas abnormalities, gall bladder disorders, some abnormal x-ray finding and right upper quadrant pain. Your stomach needs to be empty for this examination.

 

HALO ABLATION TECHNOLOGY

This procedure is used to treat dysplastic Barrett's esophagus. HALO ablation therapy is an outpatient procedure, no incisions are involved. HALO ablation therapy is performed in conjunction with upper endoscopy (EGD) using two different devices allowing treatment of larger and smaller areas of Barrett's esophagus.

 

EUS (ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY)

This procedure is an outpatient procedure used to examine your esophageal and stomach linings as well as the walls of your upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. During an EUS examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, a narrow ultrasound endoscope is placed into your throat and advanced through your upper gastrointestinal tract. During an EUS examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract, a narrow ultrasound endoscope is placed into your rectum and advanced through your lower gastrointestinal tract. If necessary a needle biopsy of a lesion or drainage of a cyst may be performed.

An EUS is commonly used to evaluate a pancreatic cyst, pancreatic mass, certain abnormal CT or ultrasound findings, lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract or rectum, bile duct dilation without a mass.

Our office staff will inform you how to prepare for your exam. If you have any questions regarding your preparation, you should contact our office staff.

A nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist will give you medication through a vein to make you relaxed and sleepy. The procedure usually takes 45 minutes to 2 hours. Recovery time is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.

 

SBCE (SMALL BOWEL CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY)

This is an outpatient procedure used to examine your small intestine. When you arrive at our office, a sensor array is applied to your abdomen. You will then swallow a video capsule which will pass through your digestive tract while transmitting video images to a data recorder that you are wearing close to your waist. The examination takes approximately eight hours after the capsule is ingested. You will return to the physician’s office at the end of the day to return the data recorded and sensor array. The images acquired during the exam will be downloaded to a workstation for your physician to review. After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be in the vicinity of an MRI machine.

A SBCE is commonly used to evaluate blood in stool, anemia and Crohn's disease.

Our office staff will inform you how to prepare for your exam. If you have any questions regarding your preparation, you should contact our office staff.

 

BRAVO pH MONITORING

This is an outpatient procedure used to identify the cause of heartburn and confirm if your condition is GERD. A miniature pH capsule that measures the pH in the esophagus and transmits the information to a small receiver like a pager is worn on your waistband is attached to your esophagus. The testing period lasts approximately 48-hours. During the testing period you will record the times when you have reflux symptoms (coughing, heartburn, regurgitation) while eating or lying down in a diary. At the end of the testing period you will return the diary and the Bravo receiver to our office. The test data is uploaded to a computer and analyzed by your physician.

Our office staff will inform you how to prepare for your exam. If you have any questions regarding your preparation, you should contact our office staff. Click here to view a training video for Bravo pH Monitoring.

 

INTERSTIM THERAPY FOR BOWEL CONTROL

This procedure is used to treat fecal incontinence. For more information please schedule an appointment with one of our physicians.

 

INFUSION SERVICES

This is an office based infusion treatment for patients diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis with biologics such as infliximab (Remicade), ustekinumab (Stelara), vedolizumab (Entyvio). Please schedule an appointment to discuss treatment options with one of our physicians.

 

FECAL TRANSPLANT

This is a procedure used to treat recurrent clostridium difficile (c-diff). Please schedule an appointment to discuss this treatment option with one of our physicians.