At ACMC's Endoscopy Unit, state-of-the-art equipment helps us to find and treat digestive system disorders.
Endoscopy uses a long, narrow, flexible tube called an endoscope that contains a strong light with magnification and a video camera. A doctor inserts the endoscope into the part of the body that needs to be examined and the camera sends images to a TV-like screen.
Procedures for Upper Endoscopy
- Esophagogastroduoendoscopy (EGD)—This procedure allows a doctor to examine the upper GI tract. After sedating the patient, the doctor gently guides the endoscope down the esophagus through the stomach and into the upper part of the small intestine. The doctor thoroughly examines the intestinal lining, and may remove small samples of tissue to send to a lab for diagnosis. This procedure can help find or treat hiatal hernia, gastritis, esophagitis, ulcers, strictures, varices, tumors and other upper GI conditions.
- Dilatation—During an EGD, the narrowed area in the esophagus or pylorus (the opening from the stomach to the intestine) is stretched.
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)—During an EGD the doctor makes a small abdominal incision for a feeding tube that will provide nourishment.
- Small bowel enteroscopy—Performed by advancing a long endoscope into the small intestine during upper intestinal endoscopy. This procedure can help evaluate obscure GI bleeding.
- Sclerotherapy—An EGD helps find varices (enlarged blood vessels) and a sclerosing solution is injected into the varices to control bleeding.
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)—During an upper endoscopy, a special side viewing scope shows the pancreatic and biliary ducts. This is done by injecting dye through a special catheter and viewing the ducts with the aid of an x-ray. This helps find strictures, stones in the bile ducts, cancers and other disorders and help remove the stones from the bile duct.
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)—A special probe is passed through the esophagus. It uses ultrasound to evaluate the structure and functioning of the heart.
- Bronchoscopy—A small endoscope is introduced through the nasal cavity and through the bronchus into the lung. It may be used to get a tissue sample for diagnosis.
Procedures for Lower Endoscopy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy—A short scope is passed through the rectum and sigmoid colon to find problems in the large intestine. This can detect common diseases such as internal and external hemorrhoids, proctitis, colitis, diverticulosis, polyps and tumors.
- Colonoscopy—After sedation a scope is manipulated through the bowel. For people with symptoms such as bleeding, constipation, diarrhea and pain, colonoscopy is the best way to diagnose the cause, which might include cancer. Tissue samples, polyps or cancerous tumors can be removed during this procedure.
Physician referrals are needed for any of these procedures. Please call 440-997-6653.
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