Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is a specialized field of medicine that encompasses conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and biliary system. These disorders include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, esophageal reflux, peptic ulcer disease. Our doctors expertise extends to diseases of the pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. Although gastroenterologists treat diseases of the liver, this field has undergone further specialization and is referred to as Hepatology. Besides the use of specialized blood tests, CAT scanning, MRI imaging, gastroenterologists are trained to perform a variety of procedures including upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, pancreatic biopsies through the wall of the small intestine and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Services provided:

• Inpatient and outpatient consultation
• Upper endoscopy used to examine the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
• Dilation of a narrowed or scarred esophagus in combination with upper endoscopy
• Colonoscopy used to examine the large intestine and perform polyp biopsies and removal of small carcinomas
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) used to visualize the bile and pancreatic ducts. Small gallstones can be removed, and dilation performed of narrowed or scarred ducts leading to the gallbladder or pancreas

Hepatology

Doctors trained in Hepatology study, diagnose and manage the diseases that affect the liver, gallbladder and biliary tree. These doctors often treat patients who develop liver disease due to autoimmune causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Sclerosing Cholangitis. The liver may also be affected by a variety of viral infections such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. There has been remarkable progress in the treatment of hepatitis C. These new treatments are curative and prevent the progression of this serious injection to cirrhosis. Hepatologists manage patients who have liver damage related to alcohol use, often called, alcoholic cirrhosis. In addition, hepatologists treat some unusual and rare diseases that affect the liver such as Wilson’s Disease and Hemochromatosis. We also monitor and treat patients who have undergone liver transplant using complex regimens of immunosuppressant medication.

Services provided:

• Inpatient and outpatient consultation
• Liver biopsy which may also be performed by interventional radiologist
• Evaluation and treatment of hepatitis C
• Evaluation treatment of hepatitis B
• Evaluation treatment of all forms of chronic hepatitis that lead to cirrhosis
• Treatment of patients after liver transplant
• Treatment of autoimmune liver and bile duct disease with immunosuppressant drugs and biologic agents
• Coordination with tertiary care liver transplant centers