Gastroenterology and Hepatology Care

With Barrett’s esophagus, the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged, usually from repeated exposure to stomach acid. People who have GERD can struggle with Barrett’s esophagus, too, feeling heartburn and chest pain.

If you’re facing this condition, our team is here to help. We offer:

• Endoscopy for screening and surveillance
• Surveillance care
• Medical management
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
• Cryoablation
• Argon plasma coagulation (APC)
• Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
• Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)

From screening to management, you can count on our team to provide you with unparalleled care for Barrett’s esophagus.

Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease that causes gluten to damage your small intestine. Left untreated, it can lead to serious and uncomfortable side effects and symptoms which are often different for children and adults.

We know that healing begins with an accurate diagnosis. We offer the latest advances in testing, diagnosing and managing celiac disease so you can feel healthy, well and strong.

A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the digestive tract with painful symptoms like abdominal pain and severe diarrhea.

While Crohn’s disease can’t be cured, our multidisciplinary team can help you manage this condition effectively with treatment options that meet your needs and give you back control of your life.

We’ll perform evaluations to get you an accurate diagnosis and work with you to create a treatment plan that takes care of your symptoms in the long term.

Diverticular disease happens as the muscles in the walls of your colon become weaker, something that can happen with age. As they weaken, small pouches sometimes form in the lining of the colon, which leads to diverticulosis.

While many people who have diverticulosis don’t always have symptoms, some common diverticulosis symptoms may include:

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Mild abdominal cramping

Diverticulitis is often confused with diverticulosis. Diverticulitis is a separate condition that happens when the diverticula in the colon become swollen and inflamed. It can be very painful and sometimes requires hospitalization or colorectal surgery.

Managing Diverticular Disease

Before we treat your condition, we’ll make sure you have an accurate diagnosis. You may need some of the following tests:

• Barium enema
• Blood tests (including liver function tests)
• Computed tomography (CT) scans
• Colonoscopy

Once your care team has a clear understanding of your diagnosis, we’ll work with you and other gastrointestinal specialists to treat you with:

• Antibiotics to treat infections
• Anti-inflammatory medicine
• Liquid diet and bed rest
• Lifestyle changes (improved diet and exercise)
• Pain medicine
• Surgery

If your provider recommends surgery, we’ll discuss all your options. That may include minimally invasive or robotic procedures.

Our Center for Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders (CESD) is a dedicated center with specialized clinics for Barrett's esophagus and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our CESD physicians are experts at diagnosing and treating these esophageal dysfunction and swallowing disorders.

Using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, we'll work to create an individualized treatment plan to meet your unique needs. At each step of your care, we strive to deliver exceptional treatments that help you feel your best in body, mind and spirit

Learn More About Our CESD

Acid reflux is a common condition for many adults. It can present as GERD or laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

Fortunately, it can often be managed with lifestyle changes that include:

• Avoiding smoking
• Avoiding “trigger” foods
• Healthy eating habits
• Healthy weight management
• Sitting up for a few hours after eating
  

But, if you can’t find relief at home, we’re here to help. We offer comprehensive diagnostic tools to understand what’s causing your symptoms and ensure there’s no other damage to your esophagus and stomach. Your doctor may recommend any of the following tests:

• Barium swallow radiograph
• BRAVO pH study
• Upper endoscopy
• Upper gastrointestinal study
• pH Impedance study
• Esophageal manometry

Then, we’ll develop a plan that’s right for you — one that relieves your symptoms and helps you enjoy the simple pleasure of mealtime.

We also treat other, related conditions including, functional esophageal disorders.

It can be alarming to find blood in your stool or vomit. But rest assured, our team is here to help you find the cause and treat it effectively. One cause may be bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Symptoms of GI bleeding can include:

• Black, tarry stool
• Bloody stool
• Bloody vomit

However, symptoms don’t always include bleeding. Signs that indicate GI bleeding may also be:

• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting
• Lightheadedness

Causes of gastrointestinal bleeding can vary as much as symptoms. They may include:

• Anal fissures
• Colon polyps
• Diverticular disease
• Esophageal lining tears
• Esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus)
• Esophagitis
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Peptic ulcer
• Colitis
• Tumors

Our team will help you get to the bottom of any GI bleeding issues and develop a personalized treatment plan that will work for your needs and goals.

Like IBS, inflammatory bowel disease isn’t just one condition, but is an umbrella term for several conditions affecting the digestive tract. It refers to ongoing inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract, and includes conditions like:

• Crohn’s disease
• Microcytic or lymphocytic colitis
• Ulcerative colitis

Whether you’re facing IBS or IBD symptoms, we’ll help you understand your symptoms, their causes and get you an accurate diagnosis. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center has trusted experts who will be with you at every step. We’ll help you start feeling better faster so that you can focus on the life you love.

Learn More About IBD Care

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the colon (or large intestine). It is not one disease, but a syndrome that describes several different issues and symptoms.

Common IBS symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea
• Bloating
• Changes to bowel movement frequency
• Changes to stool appearance
• Constipation
• Cramping
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Mucus (white or clear) in stool
• Urgent or incomplete bowel movements

A new term being used for IBS is functional bowel disorders, which can encompass:

• Functional anorectal disorders
• Functional esophageal disorders
• Functional gastric disorders
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

Because there is no clear underlying medical condition for IBS, it can be frustrating to manage the uncomfortable and, sometimes, painful condition. We’ll work with you to find what’s causing your symptoms, and come up with an effective plan to monitor, manage and minimize your IBS.

Your liver is thought to have as many as 500 functions in the body and is especially important for digestion. You can imagine, then, that when your liver isn’t working properly, it can affect your whole health.

Our gastroenterologists and hepatologists have specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing many liver diseases, including:

• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Fatty liver disease
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Chronic liver disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)

We’ll work closely with you to ensure you get an accurate diagnosis with the latest advances in imaging and screening. Then, we’ll develop a treatment plan that addresses your unique condition, symptoms and health goals.

We offer many different approaches to liver disease treatment, including:

• Medication
• Outpatient procedures
• Surgery

Together, we’ll find the path forward that’s right for you.

Your pancreas is a small gland behind the stomach that has digestive and hormonal purposes. When you’re battling a condition or disease that affects the pancreas, it can interfere with many parts of your daily life.

Our gastroenterologists and surgeons have experience treating many benign (non-cancerous) and cancerous pancreatic conditions, including:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Exocrine pancreatitis insufficiency
  • Malabsorption
  • Vitamin insufficiency
• Pancreatic cysts
• Pseudocysts

Understanding Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, which happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed, can become a very serious condition. We offer treatment and management for pancreatitis, including:

• Interventional endoscopy
• Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)
• Pancreatectomy (removal of all or part of the pancreas)
• Removal of blockage in pancreatic or bile duct
• Pancreatic surgery

Whatever your condition, we’re here to help restore your whole health.

Pelvic floor disorders affect both men and women, but more women experience them over time as they age and from childbirth.

While there are others, some types of pelvic floor disorders and conditions include:

• Fecal incontinence
• Pelvic floor dyssynergia
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Urinary incontinence
• Constipation

Our compassionate team can help you heal from pelvic floor disorders with leading-edge treatments like:

• Anorectal high-resolution manometry
• Biofeedback therapy
• Pelvic MRI
• Sitz marker study

We’ll be here to answer your questions, guide your treatment and lift your spirits as you face and heal from pelvic floor disorders.