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.

COVID-19 Screening Process for Patients Scheduled for GI Lab Procedures

In an effort to protect you, your family, our healthcare workers and the community, Northside Hospital will now require a screening test for COVID-19 three days / 72 hours before your scheduled GI lab procedure.

Screening will be available at one of our drive-thru testing sites Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. located close to each of our hospitals. Please go to the testing site designated for the facility where your procedure will take place.

GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Procedures

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. 

Help is Available for GI Issues that Affect Your Life

Prior to your procedure

You have the option of completing some of your admission documents before you arrive for your GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab procedure.