From heartburn to colonoscopies, our experienced gastroenterology team at Northside Hospital provides expert diagnosis and treatment for all aspects of your digestive health.
Your gastrointestinal (GI) system is responsible for the entry and exit of food, water, and nutrients. It spans from the mouth to the rectum. A few of the common GI disorders people experience include trouble swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach pain, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
No matter the condition, our gastroenterologists, specialty nurses, technicians and other Northside Hospital clinical specialists take a team approach to find the right diagnosis and treatment plan for you.
UPDATED APRIL 26, 2021:
In an effort to protect you, your family, our healthcare workers and the community, Northside Hospital has required patients scheduled for surgery or other procedures to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to the procedure. Based on the effectiveness and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines, for patients scheduled for a procedure on or after May 3, 2021, Northside will waive the test requirement for patients who have received the full series of the COVID-19 vaccine and at least 14 days has elapsed since the last dose of the vaccine (defined as fully vaccinated).
If you are not fully vaccinated, you will be required to have a screening test for COVID-19 three business days or 72 hours before your scheduled surgery. It is important that you come for your screening test on the designated day. This will ensure that your results are back in time for your procedure. Screening will be performed at one of our drive-thru testing sites Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You do not need an appointment for testing. Drive-thru testing sites are located close to each of our hospital facilities. Please go to the testing site designated for the facility where your surgery will take place.
Digestive health specialists at Northside evaluate and treat all types of GI disorders, including:
Ablation therapy for Barrett’s esophagus (BE): Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, or food pipe, and damages it. If BE is left untreated, it could cause esophageal cancer. Ablation therapy typically uses heat or cold energy to destroy the damaged cells without harming healthy tissue, reducing the chance of cancer.
Capsule endoscopy: This procedure involves swallowing a pill-sized capsule that contains a tiny wireless video camera. It lets doctors check for problems by allowing them to see a part of the small intestine that can’t be reached by colonoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Colonoscopy: In this procedure, doctors use a small tube and camera to look for possible cancer inside your colon (also called your large intestine) and your rectum. If doctors see any polyps or areas of concern, they can remove them or take tissue samples.
EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, also called an upper GI endoscopy): Using a small tube equipped with a camera, doctors perform an EGD when they want to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach and the beginning of your small intestine.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography): During an ERCP, doctors use a special dye and x-rays to help reveal stones, tumors or other problems with the gallbladder, pancreas or bile ducts.
Esophageal pH tests: These tests use small monitors to see how often stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, and how long it stays there.
EUS (endoscopic ultrasound): EUS uses high-frequency sound waves so that doctors can examine your digestive system organs to find cancer and other problems.
High-resolution esophageal manometry: This test checks for swallowing and acid reflux problems by using a tube to measure how well the muscles that help you swallow are working.
Hydrogen breath test: This test can help doctors determine if your body has trouble digesting certain kinds of sugar, or if you have bacterial overgrowth that can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and bloating.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube: A PEG tube is a feeding tube that doctors place through the skin of the abdomen and directly into the stomach. People who have trouble swallowing and getting enough nutrition may need a PEG tube so they can get special liquid nutrition and fluids.
You have the option of completing some of your admission documents before you arrive for your GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab procedure.
Patient Pre-Registration Information - Here you will find additional links, instructions, answers to frequent questions and contact information should you need assistance from a hospital representative.
Patient Database Form (GI) - Please print a copy, complete the requested information about your medical history and medications, then bring this copy with you to your procedure.
Patient Database Form (Pulmonary) - Please print a copy, complete the requested information about your medical history and medications, then bring this copy with you to your procedure.
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Access additional patient information, including educational videos about your procedures.
