After a referral from your primary care provider, our care starts with an office visit: a conversation, exam, and any basic labs or imaging we need. If deeper answers are required, we move to the advanced procedures below, which can both diagnose and treat many digestive conditions in a single, minimally-invasive session.
• Heartburn / Reflux (GERD)
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest or upper-abdomen pain
• Nausea & vomiting
• Barrett’s Esophagus
• Peptic ulcer / Gastritis
• Celiac Disease
• Constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Bloating & gas
• Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
• Hemorrhoids
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Diverticulosis / Diverticulitis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Colon polyps & colon cancer screening
• Unexplained weight loss or anemia
• Abdominal pain of unknown cause
• Fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Viral hepatitis (B & C)
• Pancreatitis follow-up (outpatient management)
A colonoscopy is a safe, routine test that allows your gastroenterologist to view the entire large intestine (colon and rectum) using a thin, flexible camera. In addition to detecting and preventing cancer, it also helps diagnose and monitor conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other intestinal disorders.
By finding and removing precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer, colonoscopy remains the gold standard for both detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.
Your gastroenterologist will tailor how often you need the test based on your personal risk factors.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 • Preparation | You’ll follow a clear-liquid diet and drink a prescribed bowel prep so your colon is completely clean. For prep instructions, visit Procedure Prep Instructions |
| 2 • Procedure (20–60 minutes) | Under sedation, your doctor gently advances the colonoscope through the rectum and colon, examining the lining in real time. Any polyps or abnormal tissue can be removed or biopsied immediately. |
| 3 • Recovery (≈10 minutes) | You’ll rest while the sedation wears off. Mild bloating or gas is normal and passes quickly. Arrange for a driver to take you home. |
| Test | What It Does | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| FIT / FOBT / Cologuard (stool tests) | Detect hidden blood (and, in Cologuard’s case, abnormal DNA) | A positive result still requires colonoscopy. Not suitable for High risk patients |
| CT colonography | Creates 3D images of the colon | Can’t remove polyps and involves radiation |
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy | Examines the lower part of the colon | Misses right-sided cancers |
Only a colonoscopy allows your doctor to view the entire colon and treat problems immediately.
Early detection saves lives. If you’re due for screening or have digestive concerns, talk with your Primary Care Provider about a referral. Our nurse practitioner will guide you through the next steps and schedule your procedure.
Your colon’s health is our priority.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy (“flex sig”) allows your gastroenterologist to examine the rectum and lower 15–20 inches of the colon (the sigmoid colon) using a thin, flexible scope with a camera and light.
Because it views only the lower third of the large intestine, the test is quick, low-risk, and usually requires little or no sedation. It can help diagnose the cause of bleeding, bowel habit changes, or abdominal discomfort, and in many cases, polyps can be removed immediately.
Your doctor may recommend a flexible sigmoidoscopy to:
If polyps are found or symptoms suggest disease farther up the colon, a full colonoscopy may be recommended for a complete evaluation.
Preparation is simple compared to a full colonoscopy:
Because sedation is light or not used, you may not need a driver—your doctor will confirm this before your appointment.
You’ll check in, review your medical history, and sign consent forms. If needed, a mild sedative or gas-relief medication may be given.
During the procedure, you’ll lie on your left side while the doctor gently advances the scope through the rectum and sigmoid colon. Air or carbon dioxide is used to expand the colon for a clear view. The doctor can remove small polyps or take biopsies during the same session.
The procedure typically takes 10–15 minutes. Afterward, you may feel mild cramping or gas, but most patients resume normal activity right away.
Complications are uncommon but can include:
If any of these symptoms occur within a week after the procedure, contact your doctor or seek urgent medical care.
Unlike a colonoscopy, which examines the entire colon, flexible sigmoidoscopy focuses on the lower section only. It requires less preparation, minimal or no sedation, and a shorter recovery time. If abnormalities are found higher up, a full colonoscopy can be scheduled to complete the evaluation.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy offers a quick, effective, and low-prep option for evaluating the lower colon and catching potential problems early. If you’re due for screening or experiencing bowel changes or bleeding, schedule your flex sig today.
Our team is committed to keeping your digestive health on track.
Hemorrhoid banding (also called rubber band ligation) is used to treat internal hemorrhoids, the swollen veins inside the rectum that can cause bleeding, itching, or discomfort. We perform band ligation during a procedure with the patient under sedation. It works by gently placing a small rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid, cutting off its blood supply so it shrinks and falls off naturally within a few days.
This treatment provides long-lasting relief and helps prevent future flare-ups.
Your gastroenterologist will confirm whether your hemorrhoids are internal (possibly treatable with banding) or external (which require other approaches).
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 • Evaluation | During the colonoscopy or flex sig, the gastroenterologist will perform an endoscope retroflex to confirm internal hemorrhoids. They will rule out other causes of bleeding or discomfort during the endoscopy and determine whether the hemorrhoids are amenable to banding. |
| 2 • Procedure (≈10 to 30 minutes) | Using a small ligator device, your doctor places a tiny rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. |
| 3 • Recovery | You may feel a sense of fullness or mild pressure for a day or two. The banded tissue will fall off within a few days, often unnoticed, and healing occurs naturally. Physical activity should be mild during recovery (no heavy lifting). |
If bleeding persists beyond a week or worsens, contact your provider.
If you’ve experienced rectal bleeding or hemorrhoid symptoms that haven’t improved with over-the-counter care, schedule an evaluation today. Our team will confirm the cause and discuss whether banding is the best treatment for you.
An upper endoscopy, also called EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), allows your gastroenterologist to closely examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine (duodenum) using a thin, flexible scope with a high-definition camera. The procedure is quick, safe, and often provides immediate answers to symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, upper abdominal pain, nausea, or unexplained anemia.
Your doctor may recommend an EGD to:
(Visit Procedure Prep Instructions for complete details.)
On the day of your EGD, you’ll check in, sign consent forms, and have an IV started. Sedation is given through the IV to help you relax and stay comfortable.
While you lie on your left side, the doctor gently guides the endoscope through your mouth and into your upper digestive tract. Air or carbon dioxide is introduced to expand the area for a clear view. The doctor can take biopsies, stop bleeding, or perform other treatments immediately.
The procedure usually takes 10–15 minutes. Afterward, you’ll rest for about 10 minutes as the sedation wears off. Mild throat soreness or bloating is normal and typically resolves within a few hours.
Complications are uncommon but may include:
If any of these occur within 48 hours, seek medical attention right away.
Unlike X-rays or CT scans, an upper endoscopy gives your doctor a direct view and allows biopsy or treatment during the same visit, without radiation exposure.
Persistent reflux, swallowing issues, or unexplained anemia shouldn’t be ignored. Schedule your upper endoscopy today for clear answers, and, if needed, immediate treatment, from our experienced endoscopy team. Your comfort and digestive health are our top priorities.
Esophageal dilation is a simple, effective procedure that gently stretches a narrowed area of the esophagus (the swallowing tube). Narrowing—also called a stricture—can make it difficult or painful to swallow and may cause food to feel “stuck” in the chest.
During the procedure, your doctor uses either a balloon or flexible dilator to open the esophagus. Dilation is often done as part of a sedated upper endoscopy, though in some cases a local anesthetic spray may be used instead.
The most common cause of esophageal narrowing is scarring from acid reflux (GERD). Other causes include:
Dilation helps relieve swallowing problems, improves comfort, and restores normal passage of food and liquids.
You may receive a light sedative through an IV and a numbing spray for your throat. The doctor gently passes a thin endoscope through your mouth into your esophagus to locate the narrowed area.
A dilating balloon or flexible dilator is then used to carefully stretch the narrowed section. You may feel mild pressure in your throat or chest, but most patients tolerate the procedure comfortably. In some cases, X-ray guidance may be used for accuracy.
The entire procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes.
You’ll rest for a short time while the sedation wears off. Once the numbness in your throat fades, you can drink liquids and typically resume normal eating the next day. A mild sore throat or chest pressure is common and temporary.
If you received sedation, you’ll need someone to drive you home and should avoid driving or major decisions for 24 hours.
Complications are uncommon but can include:
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest pain, fever, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, vomiting blood, or black stools after the procedure.
Some strictures require more than one dilation, performed gradually to ensure safety and lasting relief. Once the esophagus is fully widened, further dilations may not be necessary.
If your narrowing was caused by acid reflux, your doctor may prescribe acid-suppressing medication to help prevent recurrence.
Esophageal dilation is a quick, safe, and effective way to relieve swallowing difficulties and improve your quality of life. If food often feels stuck or swallowing has become painful, schedule a consultation today.
Our experienced team can help you eat comfortably again.
A capsule endoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to view the entire small intestine, including the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, areas that cannot be fully reached by standard upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. You simply swallow a vitamin-sized capsule containing a miniature camera and light. As it travels naturally through your digestive tract, it takes thousands of pictures that are transmitted to a recorder worn on your waist.
This painless, non-invasive test helps uncover causes of bleeding, inflammation, or other small-bowel disorders that might otherwise remain hidden.
Your doctor may recommend capsule endoscopy to:
(Insurance coverage for capsule endoscopy may vary—check with your provider beforehand.)
Small adhesive sensors are placed on your abdomen and connected to a recording device you’ll wear on a belt. You’ll then swallow the capsule, about the size of a large antibiotic tablet, which most people find easy and painless.
Over the next 8 hours, you can move about your day while the capsule captures more than 50,000 images of your digestive tract. Avoid strenuous activity, MRI machines, or strong electromagnetic fields during this time.
At the end of the day, you’ll return the recorder so the images can be downloaded and analyzed. The capsule itself is disposable and will pass naturally during a bowel movement, usually unnoticed.
Capsule endoscopy is very safe, but rare complications can occur:
Serious issues are uncommon when the test is performed by experienced GI specialists.
Capsule endoscopy provides a painless, detailed look at the small intestine, helping diagnose conditions that other tests can miss. If you have unexplained bleeding, suspected Crohn’s disease, or other small-bowel concerns, schedule a consultation today.
Your digestive health is our priority.
ERCP combines flexible endoscopy with real-time X-ray imaging to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct—areas a standard upper endoscopy cannot reach.
During the procedure, your gastroenterologist can remove gallstones, open narrowed ducts, place stents, or take tissue samples, often resolving the issue in a single session.
ERCP is both diagnostic and therapeutic. It may be recommended to:
Because ERCP carries small but important risks, it is generally performed only when imaging tests—such as ultrasound, MRCP, or CT—show a blockage or condition requiring treatment.
Before the procedure, an IV line will be started, and your vital signs and labs will be reviewed. Sedation is given to keep you relaxed and pain-free, though you may not be fully asleep.
A thin, flexible endoscope is guided through your mouth into the small intestine. Using X-ray guidance, your doctor introduces a small catheter to inject contrast dye into the bile or pancreatic ducts, creating a detailed image. Depending on what’s found, the doctor can cut the duct opening (sphincterotomy), remove stones, dilate narrowed areas, or place stents—all in one session.
The procedure typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on complexity.
You’ll recover for about an hour as the sedation wears off. Start with clear liquids, and advance to light foods if instructed. Rest for the remainder of the day, and avoid driving, heavy lifting, or major decisions for 24 hours.
Preliminary results are often discussed before you leave, and biopsy results (if taken) are usually available within a week.
While ERCP is safe and effective, potential complications can include:
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop severe pain, persistent vomiting, fever, or bleeding after your procedure.
ERCP offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for many complex bile-duct and pancreatic conditions. If imaging suggests a blockage, stone, or stricture—or if you’re experiencing jaundice or pancreatitis—schedule a consultation today.
Your digestive health is our specialty.
A PEG tube is a soft, flexible feeding tube placed directly through the abdominal wall into the stomach using an endoscope for guidance. It provides liquid nutrition, hydration, and medications when swallowing is unsafe or impossible—while avoiding the discomfort of repeated nasal feeding tubes.
PEG placement is intended for patients who need enteral feeding for at least 4–6 weeks or longer.
A PEG provides safe and reliable nutrition in patients who cannot eat or swallow normally. It may be recommended for:
You’ll check in, sign consent forms, and have an IV started. Sedation and a numbing throat spray will help you stay comfortable and relaxed.
The doctor passes a thin, flexible endoscope through your mouth into the stomach to identify the best placement site. A small incision is then made in the upper abdomen, and the PEG tube is guided into position. The tube is secured inside and out, and its placement is confirmed endoscopically before being flushed with water.
The procedure typically takes 20–30 minutes, and most patients go home the same day.
You’ll be observed for 1–2 hours after the procedure.
While PEG placement is safe, potential complications include:
Contact your doctor or seek emergency care if you experience fever, worsening pain, bleeding, or if the tube dislodges.
PEG feeding offers the best balance of comfort, safety, and long-term reliability compared with alternatives:
A PEG tube can dramatically improve quality of life for patients who cannot eat safely by mouth. If you or a loved one needs dependable long-term nutritional support, schedule a consultation with our endoscopy team today.
We’ll guide you every step of the way.
Bile duct stones—also called choledocholithiasis—can develop when gallstones travel from the gallbladder into the common bile duct. These stones may block the normal flow of bile, causing pain, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or infection.
Endoscopic stone removal is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that clears these blockages and restores healthy bile flow without the need for traditional surgery.
Your gastroenterologist will confirm the diagnosis using imaging such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan and determine whether endoscopic removal is needed.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 • Evaluation | Your doctor reviews your imaging and symptoms to confirm a bile duct blockage and ensure endoscopic removal is appropriate. |
| 2 • Procedure (ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) | Under sedation, a thin, flexible camera is guided through your mouth into the small intestine. Using X-ray guidance, your doctor locates the bile duct, opens it gently, and removes the stone using small instruments or balloons. |
| 3 • Recovery | You’ll rest as the sedation wears off, usually for about an hour. Most patients go home the same day. Mild sore throat or bloating is common and temporary. |
If you’ve been diagnosed with bile duct stones or have symptoms such as jaundice, pain, or unexplained nausea, contact our office for an evaluation. Our specialists can confirm the cause and determine if endoscopic stone removal (ERCP) is right for you.
When the bile duct becomes narrowed or blocked, due to a stone, scar tissue, inflammation, or a growth, bile can’t drain properly from the liver into the small intestine. This can cause pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), infection, and changes in liver function.
A biliary stent is a small, hollow tube placed inside the bile duct to keep it open, allowing bile to flow normally again. This procedure is often performed during a Therapeutic ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography).
Your gastroenterologist will determine if a stent is needed based on your imaging, symptoms, and findings during ERCP.
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 • Evaluation | Your doctor will review imaging studies and lab results to confirm the blockage and plan stent placement. |
| 2 • Procedure (via ERCP) | Under sedation, a flexible endoscope is passed through your mouth into the small intestine. Using X-ray guidance, the doctor locates the bile duct and gently places a small plastic or metal stent to restore drainage. |
| 3 • Recovery | You’ll rest while the sedation wears off—usually about an hour. Most patients go home the same day. Mild sore throat, bloating, or gas can occur but resolves quickly. |
If you’ve been told you have a bile duct blockage or abnormal liver tests, our gastroenterology team can help. Schedule a consultation to see whether biliary stent placement is the right treatment for you.
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