Gastroenterology Department for Digestive System Care
Are you experiencing abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea? Do you have blood in your stool, excessive gas or heartburn? These may be signs of an issue with your digestive system.
Our gastroenterologists diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The GI system includes the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, biliary system, pancreas, intestines and rectum.
Conditions and Treatments
Conditions and diseases that our doctors treat include:
- Acid reflux
- Autoimmune liver disease
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Cancer (colorectal, esophageal, intestinal, liver, pancreatic, stomach)
- Celiac disease
- Colitis (C. difficile, collagenous, ischemic, lymphocytic, microscopic, pancolitis, ulcerative)
- Diverticulitis
- Food allergies (gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance)
- Gallstones
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastroparesis
- H. pylori (bacterial overgrowth)
- Hemorrhoids
- Hepatitis (A, B and C, alcoholic, autoimmune, chronic)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Liver disease (cirrhosis, fatty liver, liver failure)
- Narcotic bowel syndrome
- Pancreatitis
- Polyps
We provide various advanced treatments including:
- LINX Device to Treat GERD
- Colonoscopy
- Enteroscopy
- Endoscopic exam of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine (EGD)
- Endoscopic exam of the bile ducts (ERCP)
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Endoscopic feeding tube replacement
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
- Esophageal manometry
- Fatty liver disease care
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Diagnosing Gastrointestinal Conditions
Many GI issues present with similar symptoms, like abdominal pain and nausea. Therefore, an appropriate diagnosis is a key step in treating GI problems.
To diagnose your condition, a gastroenterology specialist will review your medical history, conduct a physical exam and order screening tests.
Testing and Monitoring Gastrointestinal Conditions
Our gastroenterology department is proud to offer advanced and minimally invasive testing and monitoring options for digestive issues. Gastroenterology procedures are now made simple with technologies like the PillCamTM and SmartPillTM.
PillCamTM
The PillCam provides a noninvasive alternative to a traditional colonoscopy. With this approach, the patient swallows a small capsule that has a tiny camera inside it. The camera takes thousands of pictures as it moves through the digestive tract. It then transmits the pictures to a recording device.
Unlike a traditional colonoscopy, the procedure requires no anesthesia and involves no recovery time. The device can help detect bleeding, tumors, ulcers, inflammation and more. The capsule can be especially helpful for seeing the middle portions of the digestive tract that would normally require exploratory surgery.
SmartPillTM
The SmartPill is also a small capsule that’s swallowed by the patient and delivers information to a recording device. It measures pressure, pH, transit time and temperature as it passes through the digestive tract. This information helps the physician evaluate motility disorders, such as constipation and gastroparesis.
Traditional Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is the most common procedure for screening for colon cancer. A colonoscopy enables physicians to examine the entire large intestine, colon and rectum for polyps. Polyps are small growths that can become cancerous over time.
During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera.
The camera sends pictures to a monitor. These pictures allow the doctor to get a complete picture of the colon and surrounding organs.
For more information on colonoscopy, click here to read our Colonoscopy Frequently Asked Questions.
CT Scans
CT scans of the liver, abdomen and pancreas can help doctors assess the health of the gastrointestinal system. These scans show whether or not any areas are infected or enlarged.
Serology Testing
Serology testing is a type of blood testing that checks for antibodies. It is often used as the first step in diagnosing celiac disease. Celiac disease serologic tests include:
- tissue transglutaminase (tTG) immunoglobulin A (IgA)
- tTG immunoglobulin G (IgG)
- endomysial antibody (EMA)
- deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP)
People with celiac disease will likely have irregular results to these tests, depending on the severity of their disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease recommends that doctors follow up with intestinal biopsies. These biopsies can confirm a celiac diagnosis.
Celiac disease doctors will help the patient come up with a management plan for the disease, depending on diagnosis.
Patients not diagnosed with celiac disease but suffer from gluten intolerance should adhere to a strict gluten-free diet.
Contact Us
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us at our Gastroenterology office located in Henderson, Nevada, at 702-492-1162, To schedule an appointment with a Gastroenterology physician, click here.