Digestive Health
A healthy digestive system is essential for the body to function properly. Northwest Healthcare offers gastrointestinal services, including endoscopy, to help doctors diagnose and treat digestive issues.
Gastroenterologists provide treatment options for a range of digestive disorders, including:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Acid reflux (GERD)
- Diverticulitis and diverticulosis
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Gallstones
- Colon polyps
- Constipation
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Esophagitis and stricture
- Helicobacter pylori
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Gastroparesis
Digestive health diagnostic tests and treatments include:
- Capsule endoscopy (Northwest only) measures the pH in the esophagus continuously for up to four days. This test helps diagnose acid reflux disease.
- Cholangioscopy provides direct, noninvasive visualization into the biliary ducts to identify stones and strictures.
- Colonoscopy is a test that provides the doctor with a look at the inner lining of your large intestine. It is used to diagnose ulcers, polyps and tumors.
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a procedure used to remove lesions from the digestive tract.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is performed to diagnose narrowed or blocked bile or pancreatic ducts.
- Esophageal high resolution manometry (Northwest only) measures the pressure and functionality of the esophagus. This test is used to diagnose GERD, achalasia (which affects the ability of the body to move food into the stomach) and esophageal spasms, which also affect how food is carried to the stomach.
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) examines the lining of the esophagus, stomach and part of the small intestine. It helps diagnose celiac disease, esophagitis, GERD, hiatal hernia and cancer in the esophagus, stomach or first part of the small intestine, and ulcers.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy allows the physician look at the lower part of your large intestine from the rectum to the sigmoid colon. It is also used to look for early signs of cancer, inflamed tissue, growths, ulcers and bleeding.
- PEG placement (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tube).
- Pouchoscopy is a simple, recommended endoscopic examination of the pouch.
- Radiofrequency ablation (Northwest only) is used to treat Barrett’s esophagus by removing diseased tissue with minimal damage to healthy tissue.
- Upper and lower endoscopic ultrasound.