Gastrointestinal Services
Many Americans suffer with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. They may suffer
unnecessarily for years instead of taking simple steps to diagnose and
treat their condition.
We diagnose and treat the following:
- Bowel incontinence
- Cancers of the esophagus, stomach, intestine, and rectum
- Cirrhosis
- Colitis
- Colon cancer
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis
- Gallstones
- GI bleeding
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Pancreatic disease
- Polyps (tumors)
- Proctitis
- Strictures
- Ulcers
Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing a gastrointestinal disorder is an important first step towards
treatment. Whittier Hospital Medical Center offers several methods for
diagnosis and treatment including:
Colonoscopy:
A colonoscopy gives physicians a view of your lower digestive tract, which
is comprised of the colon and rectum.
Physicians may use a colonoscopy to evaluate:
Abdominal pains
Change in bowel movement habits
Determine a cause for blood found in stools
Screen for colon cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the fourth
most common cancer in both men and women. Colonoscopies are an important
procedure because they can assist in the screening, prevention, and diagnosis
of colorectal cancer. If polyps are found and removed, they may prevent
the development of colorectal cancer.
EGD (upper endoscopy):
An EGD, also known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, is a procedure that
uses a small flexible scope with a camera at the end to look at several
passage ways in the body: the small intestine, esophagus, and stomach.
An EGD will allow physicians to identify causes of:
Heartburn
Internal bleeding
Abdominal pain
Problems swallowing
ERCP:
Used to help diagnose disorders of the pancreas, bile ducts, liver, and
gallbladder. Stones or other blockages may be removed through the use
of stents or extraction.
Sigmoidoscopy:
Recommended as part of a routine screening for older individuals, Sigmoidoscopy
is used for viewing the rectum and sigmoid colon for the diagnosis of
colon disease.
Technology:
Whittier Hospital Medical Center offers technology designed for detecting,
diagnosing, and treating your gastrointestinal disorder, as well as making
you as comfortable as possible throughout your procedure.
- Argon plasma coagulator
- Bispectral Monitoring
- Digital fluoroscopy
- Conscious sedation