Yes, a colonoscopy may detect polyps (small growths on the lining of the colon). Your gastroenterologist will remove these polyps during the colonoscopy. Removal of polyps will result in a major reduction in the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer in the future.

A gastroenterologist is a physician who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract (including the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine) and other digestive organs (liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and gall bladder). Gastroenterologists see patients in the hospital and clinic, and also perform endoscopic procedures (e.g., upper endoscopy and colonoscopy). All of The Gastro Clinic Gastroenterologists are board certified and highly trained. They completed four years of medical school, three years of internal medicine residency, and between two and four years of gastroenterology fellowship.

If you are 45 years or older, have a family history of GI cancer, or if you have complained to your family doctor about digestive problem such as frequent abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn, something is affecting your digestive system.

No. Gastroenterologists perform endoscopic procedures, but do not perform surgery. When necessary, they work closely with surgeons.

Yes and no, most insurances require all new patients to have a referral from a physician prior to scheduling an appointment. Usually you are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. This time is spent clarifying information and completing any other paperwork.

We take care of all adult patients and childrens.

Gastroenterologists use a number of techniques to view the organs of the digestive tract. The most common tests they perform are colonoscopy and upper-GI endoscopy. Colonoscopy is performed to examine the large intestine for disease, most commonly colorectal cancer. Everyone age 50 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer. When performing a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and a light on the end — called the colonoscope — to view the entire colon and rectum and check for polyps, inflammatory changes or cancer. If polyps are found, they often can be removed with this procedure. Endoscopy can be helpful in the evaluation or diagnosis of various problems, including difficult or painful swallowing, pain in the stomach or abdomen, bleeding, ulcers, tumors, and problems with the gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts. An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and light on the end. By adjusting the controls on the endoscope, the gastroenterologist can safely guide the instrument to carefully examine the inside lining of the upper digestive system. In some cases, GIs can treat digestive conditions through the endoscope. Some gastroenterologists perform newer tests to examine the GI tract, such as CT colonography where the GI doctor can inspect radiological images of the colon to check for polyps and cancers, and capsule endoscopy, during which the patient swallows a camera that records images of the GI tract. For digestive health issues, it’s best to see a doctor who specializes in the digestive tract — a gastroenterologist

In most cases your first encounter with our office will include a complete history, physical examination and blood tests, if appropriate. This takes approximately one hour. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at appropriate intervals. These visits usually require from 15-30 minutes, depending upon the complexity of your problem.

Intravenous sedation will be administered to you before and during your procedure. The sedation is intended to keep you comfortable during your endoscopic exam. However, many patients will have no recollection of the procedure because of the "amnesia" effect of the sedatives. The effects of the medication may last as long as 24 hours.

The frequency of colonoscopy is determined by an individual's risk for colon cancer. This is influenced by family history and the presence or absence of colon polyps on your initial or subsequent exams.