Tests For Gastrointestinal Problems

The first step in obtaining effective treatment is to diagnose your symptoms. The UrgentWay gastroenterologist might perform a combination of the following procedures: review your medical history, conduct a physical examination, and order laboratory tests. One example of the tests that may be performed is:

• Colon cancer screening (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy)
• Laboratory tests to detect blood in the stool
• Your doctor can use imaging tests to help him see how your digestive tract processes food and waste.
• These tests help to determine the strength and functionality of the muscles in the esophagus or rectum.

Managing Gastrointestinal Disorders

UrgentWay Medical Center’s gastroenterologists treat common conditions such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, and other more complicated diseases.

• There are many esophageal conditions, such as gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD) and esophagitis.
• Autoimmune conditions such as celiac and inflammatory bowel diseases
• Liver diseases such as liver cancer, fatty liver disease, and hepatitis are all possible.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Millions of Americans are affected by GERD or Acid Reflux Disease. GERD is caused by stomach acids and intestinal bile leaking back from the stomach into your esophagus (the tube running from the mouth to the stomach), a process known as gastroesophageal reflux. Reflux can cause irritation to the esophagus and can lead to heartburn, esophageal damage, and other symptoms.

Colon Cancer Screening

UrgentWay gastroenterologists can screen for cancer by colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Both of these procedures allow the doctor to screen for and treat colon polyps. Polyps can develop into cancerous growths over time. The removal of polyps can prevent colorectal carcinoma from ever developing. It is easier to treat cancers that are detected early before they spread. According to the American Cancer Society, nine out of ten people who have colon cancer are alive five years after diagnosis. Many will live normal lives and may not be affected by cancer again.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy can be used to identify precancerous, early-stage cancerous, or cancerous lesions of the colon. The physician will examine the colon and rectum to look for small, benign growths called polyps. These can develop into cancerous tumors over time. The colonoscope is a small, flexible, hollow, lighted, hollow tube with a tiny camera that’s attached to it. It’s inserted into your colon under local anesthesia. The doctor can view the images on a monitor. To keep the colon open, small amounts of air are puffed into it. This allows the doctor to see clearly. The anesthesia makes the exam painless and takes only 30 minutes.

Sigmoidoscopy

Sometimes, a doctor may perform a sigmoidoscopy in place of a colonoscopy. The doctor will only examine the lower portion of the colon and the entire rectum to determine if there are any signs of cancer or polyps. The scope is less than two feet in length, so the physician can see half the colon and the whole rectum. A sigmoidoscope, which is a small, hollow, flexible, and lighted tube with a tiny camera at the end, is used by the physician. While the patient is still under anesthesia, the sigmoidoscope can be gently inserted into the colon and sent pictures to a monitor. To keep the colon open, the doctor can puff small amounts of air into it.

Upper Endoscopy

Upper endoscopy may be recommended by your doctor to evaluate the symptoms of upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. This allows the physician access to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GI), which includes the stomach, duodenum, and esophagus. This test is the most effective in diagnosing bleeding issues from the upper GI tract. This test is also more sensitive than X-rays for diagnosing inflammation, ulcers, and tumors of the stomach, duodenum, and esophagus. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube that the physician uses to view images. It has its own light source and lens.

Upper endoscopy is a procedure that allows a physician to take a biopsy and distinguish between malignant and benign (cancerous). Your physician may order a biopsy even if there is no indication of cancer. Your physician may order a biopsy to check for Helicobacter Pylori, which is the bacteria that causes ulcers. An upper endoscopy can also be used to treat conditions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. You will feel a very little discomfort if the physician passes instruments through your endoscope to treat various abnormalities.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

If your doctor suspects problems or blockages with bile or pancreatic ducts, he or she may ask you to undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which is a specialized technique used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder. Ducts can be described as drainage routes. The drainage channels from the liver, also known as bile or the biliary conduits, are called ducts. The drainage channel to the pancreas is called the pancreatic drain.

During ERCP, the doctor will insert an endoscope into your stomach, stomach, and mouth. Once the doctor has seen the common opening between the ducts of the liver and pancreas, he or she will insert a narrow, plastic tube called a catheter into the ducts. The doctor will inject a dye through the pancreatic and biliary ducts, then take X-rays. This will allow the physician to see the problem and suggest treatment.