GI Procedures

Understand what an upper GI endoscopy is, why one may be performed and what your doctor will look for during this procedure.

Understand how to properly prepare for your upper GI endoscopy and what you can expect the day of your procedure. Learn what your doctor can do if any abnormalities are noticed.

Understand what to expect following your upper GI endoscopy including any restrictions you may have, minor side effects, and possible but rare complications.

This is an exam of your digestive tract. It's done with a tiny camera capsule you swallow. This exam is often used to see inside the small intestine, because that's hard to reach with other types of scopes.

This is an x-ray exam. It can help your doctor identify problems with your esophagus, stomach, and the first part of your small intestine. You may benefit from this exam if you have a problem such as heartburn, indigestion or unexplained pain in your chest or abdomen.

During this procedure, a feeding tube is placed in your stomach. This tube will be used to give you food, liquids and medicines (if needed). A PEG tube is very helpful for patients who have trouble swallowing.

ERCP stands for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. ERCP is used to diagnose and treat problems in your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. All of these organs help with digestion.

This procedure lets a doctor see and fix some problems of the pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. It's done with a special camera we call an "endoscope."

This surgery removes part or all of your stomach. It's used to treat stomach problems that can't be helped in other ways. You may need this surgery if you have stomach bleeding or inflammation. You may need it if you have growths we call "polyps." It's also used to treat cancer.

This surgery removes your spleen. That's an organ in your abdomen. It filters your blood and helps your body fight infection. You may need this surgery if your spleen has ruptured. The surgery may also treat some medical conditions.

An esophageal dilation is a procedure used to widen a narrowed section of your esophagus. This is the tube that leads from your throat to your stomach.

Capsule endoscopy is a test done to take pictures of your digestive tract. It uses a capsule with a tiny camera in it. You swallow the capsule like a pill. As the capsule travels through your digestive tract, it takes pictures. The images are sent to a recorder that you wear.

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a test to look at the inside of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It's commonly used to look for cancers or growths in the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, and rectum.

Upper GI endoscopy is a test that looks inside your upper GI tract. During the test, a biopsy or tissue sample is sometimes taken and studied for problems.

Push enteroscopy is a procedure that uses a long, flexible tube to check your upper small intestine. Learn how to get ready for the procedure, and what to expect.

This exam lets your healthcare provider look at the upper part of your digestive tract.

GERD is a problem where food and fluid flow back (reflux) into your esophagus. When other treatments don't help, your provider may advise a surgery called fundoplication. Read on to learn more.

Esophageal manometry is a test to measure the strength and function of the esophagus. Here's what you can expect when having the test.

The Stretta procedure is a nonsurgical treatment for GERD. It uses heat waves to strengthen the muscles around the LES, so it opens less often. This helps prevent GERD.

Watch this to learn answers to common colonoscopy concerns.

Learn general guidelines for properly preparing for your colonoscopy on the days leading up to the procedure. This will allow your doctor to see the lining of the colon clearly and will help make your colonoscopy go as smoothly as possible.

Understand what to expect on the day of your colonoscopy, how the procedure will be performed and possible risks that are involved. If any abnormalities are seen, learn what your doctor may do to treat them.

Understand what to expect during your recovery following your colonoscopy including how you may feel, restrictions you may have, minor side effects, and possible complications to be aware of.

Learn how colorectal cancer can develop, who should undergo screening as well as options available for screening. Understand treatment is most effective when through regular screenings, pre-cancerous polyps, or cancer, is detected in the earliest stages.

Learn about home screening tests used to check for colorectal cancer. You will be introduced to the two types of fecal occult blood tests; the guaiac fecal occult blood test and the fecal immunochemical test, as well as a stool DNA test.

Learn about several common screening tests your doctor may recommend to check for colorectal cancer. These tests may include a flexible sigmoidoscopy, a double contrast barium enema, or a CT colonography.

Learn common preparation instructions you may be asked to follow prior to your colorectal screening test, and recognize the importance of following them.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a common procedure. It is used to check the health of the lower part of the colon. It can show your doctor what's causing problems with your bowel movements, or causing bloody stool, belly pain, or weight loss. This video will show you how it's done.

These are small, fleshy growths that stick out from the walls of your large intestine. In most cases, they are harmless. But over time, some polyps can become cancerous.

This procedure removes abnormal growths, called "polyps", from the inner wall of your large intestine. The procedure usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour.

This surgery removes part of your small intestine. It's used for disease or damage that can't be treated with other methods.

Learn how to get ready for a proctoscopy, an exam of your rectum and anus.

Colonoscopy is used to view the inside of your lower digestive tract (colon and rectum). It can help screen for colon cancer and can help find the source of abdominal pain, bleeding, and changes in bowel habits.

Lower GI endoscopy allows your healthcare provider to view your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure used to view the lower colon and rectum. This test can help find the source of belly pain, rectal bleeding, and changes in bowel habits. Sigmoidoscopy is also used as part of the screening for colorectal cancer.

You've had painful attacks caused by gallstones. To treat the problem, your healthcare provider wants to remove your gallbladder. This surgery is called cholecystectomy.

In colon resection, a part of the colon is taken out (resected) during surgery. The most common types of colorectal resection are listed here.

You've had painful attacks caused by gallstones. Because of this, you are having surgery to remove your gallbladder. This is called cholecystectomy. A method called laparoscopy will be used. This allows surgery to be done through a few small incisions.

After discussing your colon problem, you and your healthcare provider may decide that laparoscopic treatment is right for you. How well you get ready for the surgery can affect its success. Make sure you understand all instructions your provider gives you.

During a colostomy part of the colon (large intestine) is removed or disconnected. If the large intestine was diseased, it may be removed. If it was injured, it may be disconnected for a short time while it heals, then reconnected after a certain period of time.

During an ileostomy, healthcare providers either remove or disconnect your colon (large intestine), and sometimes part of the last section of your ileum (last section of your small intestine).

This surgery is done to treat diseases of the digestive tract. It takes out all of the large intestine. When healed, bowel movements still occur through the anus.

This surgery is done to treat diseases of the digestive tract. It removes all of the large intestine. When healed, waste passes from the small intestine through an opening (stoma) in the belly wall and into a pouch outside of the body.

This surgery is done to treat diseases of the digestive tract. It removes all of the large intestine. During the surgery, an opening (stoma) is made in your belly. When healed, waste collects in a pouch inside your body. It's then drained through a thin tube (catheter).

During colorectal surgery, parts of the colon or rectum are surgically removed. Read on to learn what to expect before, during, and after the surgery.

A hernia is a bulge at a weak spot in the wall of the abdomen. Tissue or organs may press into the weak spot. This may cause symptoms of discomfort or pain. If left untreated, a hernia can get worse and may lead to serious problems. Surgery can be done to repair a hernia.

A hernia is a bulge at a weak spot in the wall of the abdomen. Tissue or organs may press into the weak spot. This may cause symptoms of discomfort or pain. If left untreated, a hernia can get worse and may lead to serious problems. Surgery can be done to repair a hernia.

Read on for details about rectal surgery, including what to expect before, during and after the procedure.