Archive for January 2020
Understanding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)? Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when contents in the stomach flow back into the esophagus. This happens when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter, does not close properly. What are the symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease? Common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease are…
Read MoreUnderstanding Barrett’s Esophagus
What is Barrett’s Esophagus? Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus changes, becoming more like the lining of the small intestine than the esophagus. This occurs in the area where the esophagus is joined to the stomach. It is believed that the main reason that Barrett’s esophagus develops is because…
Read MoreUnderstanding Bowel Preparation
Understanding Bowel Preparation Before Colonoscopy It is extremely important that your colon be thoroughly cleaned before your colonoscopy. This will let the doctor see any abnormalities, such as colon polyps, during the procedure. Polyps are small growths in the colon that could later turn into cancer. Cleansing the colon before a colonoscopy is called bowel…
Read MoreERCP
What is ERCP? Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography, or ERCP, is a specialized technique used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct and gallbladder. Ducts are drainage routes; the drainage channels from the liver are called bile or biliary ducts. The pancreatic duct is the drainage channel from the pancreas. How is ERCP performed? During ERCP, your…
Read MoreUnderstanding Minor Rectal Bleeding
Minor rectal bleeding refers to the passage of a few drops of bright red (fresh) blood from the rectum, which may appear on the stool, on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl. This brochure addresses minor rectal bleeding that occurs from time to time. Continuous passage of significantly greater amounts of blood from…
Read MoreUnderstanding Diverticulosis
What is diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is a condition in which there are small pouches or pockets in the wall or lining of any portion of the digestive tract. These pockets occur when the inner layer of the digestive tract pushes through weak spots in the outer layer. A single pouch is called a diverticulum. The pouches…
Read MoreEnsuring The Safety of Your Endoscopic Procedure
The Benefits of Endoscopy Endoscopy involves the use of flexible tubes, known as endoscopes, to provide a close-up, color television view of the inside of the digestive tract. Upper endoscopes are passed through the mouth to visualize the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine), while lower endoscopes (colonoscopes) are…
Read MoreUnderstanding Capsule Endoscopy
What is capsule endoscopy? Capsule Endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the three portions of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum). Your doctor will give you a pill-sized video camera for you to swallow. This camera has its own light source and takes…
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