Diagnosing and treating some digestive disorders requires the use of interventional procedures performed by a gastroenterologist or interventional endoscopy specialist. Digestive health experts in the Sutter Health network specialize in these minimally-invasive treatments for disorders of the esophagus, small intestine, stomach, colon, pancreas and bile ducts.
The most common interventional procedures are performed through endoscopy, which uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and video camera at the tip to visualize the digestive tract. The tube is usually inserted through the esophagus or rectum. Doctors can then remove polyps and perform minor surgeries using miniature tools on the tip of a smaller endoscope threaded through the first endoscope.
Another sophisticated technique for viewing the inside of the small intestine is called the capsule endoscopy. During this procedure, you swallow a capsule or pill that contains a tiny, wireless video camera. This camera will take thousands of pictures as it moves through your digestive tract (and out of the body) and transmit these images to a data recorder.
The Sutter Health network includes gastroenterology experts with advanced training in endoscopic procedures for digestive problems, including:
- Unexplained bleeding, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, heartburn, vomiting or difficulty swallowing.
- Gallbladder, bile duct and pancreatic duct issues.
- Tumor or polyp identification and removal.
- Cancers of the digestive system.
- Ulcers and inflammation.
- Anemia and nutritional deficiencies.
- Hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse and hernias.
Across the Sutter Health network, hospitals and digestive care experts have earned awards from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for delivering high-quality endoscopic care, and five-star ratings for our gastroenterology services from Healthgrades. Many specialized endoscopy and surgery centers within our network are accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accreditor of healthcare organizations.
