Healthy digestion leads to better overall wellness and health for your entire body. Our specialists can help you manage your digestive health conditions so you can get back to your regular life.

 

Screening and diagnosis

Our physicians and nurses will want to get a better idea of what’s going on in your gastrointestinal tract, which runs from your mouth to your anus. 

There are a number of ways to get a glimpse at the various parts of your digestive system.

Endoscopy

Your doctor will use a thin, flexible tube, called an endoscope, with a camera on the end to examine your esophagus, stomach and the start of your small intestine. Inserted through your mouth, your physician can also use the endoscope to take a tissue sample for further testing or remove a polyp.

It takes about 30 minutes and we will monitor you for about an hour afterward as this procedure requires light sedation. 

Ultrasound

Our healthcare team can get a closer look at some hard to reach places through ultrasound imaging, a powerful and accurate diagnostic tool. 

ERCP

ERCP, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, lets our specialists examine and diagnose health concerns in your gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and liver. This diagnostic imaging procedure uses an endoscope and X-ray, along with medical-grade dye to see how your body is creating and processing digestive fluids. 

Colonoscopy

This procedure uses a scope to look at and diagnose conditions affecting your bowel system, including your intestines, colon and rectum. We recommend everyone between the ages of 50 and 75 get an annual colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. 

Read more about colorectal health

 

Barium swallow

Your specialists will get a detailed look at your upper GI tract by taking X-rays while you swallow a liquid called barium sulfate. The barium highlights the different areas of your digestive system as it works its way through so your doctor can evaluate your GI health.

pH monitoring

Your doctor may recommend pH monitoring to evaluate the severity of your GERD or the effectiveness of your treatments. The monitoring device is a small, gel cap that sits inside your esophagus and records data for about 48 hours, measuring the activity of your esophagus and reflux symptoms. You will be asked to keep a diary of when you eat, lay down, sleep and other activities. 

The capsule, which is disposable, is inserted by an endoscope and will eventually come out through a bowel movement.

Esophageal manometry

This diagnostic test measures the muscle contractions in your esophagus that occur when you swallow. The measurements are taken by sensors attached to a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through your nose, down your esophagus and into your stomach. This procedure takes about an hour.

 

Surgical procedures

Surgery may be necessary to relieve your symptoms or repair parts of your digestive tract so you don’t risk further complications.

Our skilled surgeons use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible, along with the latest in technology to reduce pain and scarring and give you a shorter recovery period. 

Ablation

This outpatient procedure uses HALO ablation technology to heat tissue through an upper endoscopy to destroy cancerous and precancerous areas inside your esophagus.

This is a common treatment for a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which is caused by the acid traveling back up from the stomach in patients with GERD. There are no incisions and the procedure takes about 30 minutes, plus about an hour of observation afterward. 

Hernia repair

Hernias can cause reflux or GERD and may need surgery to repair.

A hiatal hernia occurs when the  part of the stomach that connects with your esophagus pushes upward through your diaphragm. A paraesophageal hernia happens when the  junction of the stomach and the esophagus remains in place, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus.

To reduce the hernia and put it back where it belongs, your surgeon will perform a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery with a few small incisions that will fit the surgical instruments needed to fix the hernia.

Most patients are able to walk the same day of their surgery and can resume normal activity within a week. 

Paraesophageal hernia repair may be more complicated, requiring surgeons to use a combination of laparoscopic and robotic techniques to repair a diaphragm defect and insert surgical mesh to prevent the hernia from recurring. 

Paraesophageal hernia surgery typically requires a short hospital stay and a soft diet for two weeks. 

Nissen fundoplication

This surgery treats GERD when medication has failed. Surgeons use laparoscopic technology to wrap the upper part of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus and stitch it into place. Your surgeon may also repair a hernia at the same time, if needed.

You will be placed on a liquid diet following surgery that will gradually move toward solid food and then a normal diet over several weeks. 

LINX® Reflux Management System

This surgery is performed when medication no longer works to control your GERD or reflux. LINX is a circular implant made of flexible magnetic titanium beads that is placed around the esophagus to support a weak or malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

The magnetic attraction causes the beads to open and close when you swallow, creating a barrier to prevent food and stomach acids from flowing backward into your esophagus.

This is a minimally invasive, laparoscopic procedure. Patients typically go home the same day or the day after surgery and can resume a normal diet immediately. 

Roux-en-Y

In severe cases that require part or all of your stomach to be removed, surgeons can create a small pouch to reroute food from your esophagus to your small intestine.

This surgery may require overnight hospital stays.

Gastric bypass

While this procedure is more commonly known for treating morbid obesity, gastric bypass is sometimes used to alleviate severe GERD or reflux.

Your surgeon will divide your stomach in a small upper pouch and a larger lower pouch, with your small intestine connected to both. This redirects stomach acids down the digestive system and stops them from refluxing back into your esophagus.

This procedure often requires overnight hospital stays.

 

Additional colorectal procedures

Our doctors are highly trained in colorectal surgery, no matter how routine or complicated.

• Anorectal surgery
• Colon resections
• Ulcerative colitis surgery (hemicolectomy, colectomy, proctocolectomy)
• Hemorrhoid removal