Advanced Endoscopic Procedures in Hospital

Hospital-Based Advanced Endoscopic Procedures

Advanced Endoscopy is a subspecialty within gastroenterology dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases using endoscopic procedures.  Many of the tools used in Advanced Endoscopy are only available in  hospital setting. Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to view and evaluate the digestive tract, make a diagnosis, and even perform treatment. An endoscope is a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it. It is inserted through the mouth to view the upper GI tract or through the anus to view the lower GI tract. The pictures are displayed on a color TV monitor in the treatment room so the doctor can view them in real time.

Advanced endoscopic procedures, including  Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) , are used as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools to obtain high-quality images of the digestive tract and its adjacent structures such as the pancreas.

Advanced endoscopic procedures may be used to treat or manage a number of complex GI conditions, including:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Barrett's esophagus
• Bleeding in the digestive tract
• Esophageal varices
• Gallstones
• Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE)
• Lesions in the digestive tract
• Pancreatic cyst
• Swallowing problems
• Obstructions/tumors in the esophagus, duodenum, or colon

In some cases, endoscopy can be combined with other procedures to evaluate or treat gastrointestinal disorders. For example, the doctor may perform an upper endoscopy in conjunction with an ultrasound to obtain images and information about various parts of the digestive tract, as well as to determine how far certain GI cancers may have spread.

For endoscopic treatments that require general anesthesia or for more complex procedures, our gastroenterologists will perform these procedures in the hospital. We are affiliated with hospitals throughout the greater Austin area.

Hospital-based endoscopic procedures may include:

• Argon Plasma Coagulation for Vascular Ectasia
• Band Ligation for Esophageal Varices
• Cystogastrostomy for Pancreatic Cyst
• Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
• Endoscopic Pancreatic Necrosectomy for Acute Pancreatitis
• ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)
• Endoscopic Suturing
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) with Fine Needle Aspiration
• EndoRotor®
• Enteral Stent Placement/Removal
• Enteroscopy for GI Bleeding
• HALO Radiofrequency Ablation for Barrett's Esophagus
• PEG Feeding Tube Placement/Removal

For a gastroenterologist in the Austin area who has the knowledge and skills to perform these intricate procedures, call Austin Gastro today. We have numerous offices throughout the metro area to serve you. You can also use our online form to request an appointment with one of our GI doctors.