ACHALASIA

Achalasia is a rare swallowing disorder characterized by difficulty swallowing.

APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis happens when the inside of your appendix is blocked by something that makes it swell up. If you have appendicitis, there is a serious risk your appendix may burst. This can happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms. Because of this, appendicitis is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms, see a doctor right away.

AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITUS

In autoimmune hepatitis, the body's immune system attacks the the liver, leading to inflammation and liver damage. 

BARRETT'S ESOPHOGUS

Barrett's esophagus is complication of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), where tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestine replaces the tissue lining of the esophagus. Some people with Barrett's esophagus may be at risk for developing esophageal cancer.

BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

This condition occurs when the small or large intestine becomes partially or entirely blocked. The blockage can interfere with the normal process of digestion and cause severe abdominal pain. 

CELIAC DISEASE

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which sufferers are not able to ingest gluten without damaging the small intestine. Over time, this causes the body not to properly absorb nutrients. 

COLON POLYPS

Colon polyps are growths on the lining of the colon or rectum. If not removed, some polyps can become cancerous.

CONSTIPATION

Constipation is defined as difficulty in emptying the bowels and/or infrequent bowel movements. It can include abdominal pain, small stools, hard stools and sometimes rectal bleeding. The length of time between bowel movements varies from person to person, but three or more days without one typically requires attention. 

CROHN'S DISEASE

This inflammatory bowel disease affects the lining of the digestive tract. It is characterized by flare-ups of severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fatigue. 

DIARRHEA

This term describes bowel movements that are loose and watery. Diarrhea is common and typically not serious. It is often caused by an infection or virus, but can also be a symptom of certain irritable bowel conditions. 

DIVERTICULOSIS AND DIVERTICULITIS

Diverticula are small pouches that bulge outward from the large intestine. Their presence, which may be caused by a low-fiber diet, creates the condition called diverticulosis. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become inflamed or infected and cause abdominal pain, nausea and fever. 

GALLSTONES

Gallstones occur when hardened pieces of bile – or digestive fluid – form in the gallbladder. The blockages cause steady pain in the right upper abdomen. 

GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

GI bleeding is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease. There are many possible causes of GI bleeding, including hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, tears or inflammation in the esophagus, diverticulosis and diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, colonic polyps, or cancer in the colon, stomach or esophagus.

GASTROPARESIS

Gastroparesis is a disorder that impairs the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. 

HEARTBURN/GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)

The acronym GERD refers to gastroesophageal reflux disease. This digestive disorder affects the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach and causes the return of the stomach’s contents back into the esophagus – leading to heartburn. 

HEMOCHROMATOSIS

Hemochromatosis is a disorder where the body absorbs and stores too much iron.

HEMORRHOIDS

Hemorrhoids are one or more swollen and inflamed veins at the site of the anal canal and can be either internal or external. They are created by pressure inside the canal, either during pregnancy or because of straining during bowel movements. They typically cause rectal pain, itching and bleeding. 

HEPATITUS

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a virus. 

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

IBD is the chronic inflammation of all or a portion of the digestive tract. It impacts the colon as well as the large intestine; many with Crohn's disease suffer from this condition. 

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

IBS is an intestinal disorder that causes bloating, gas, stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea. This disorder commonly affects the large intestine and can be caused by certain foods or stress. 

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

Lactose intolerance is when your body can’t break down or digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products.

PANCREATITIS

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to complications of the pancreas.

PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

This condition refers to painful ulcers that line the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. The most common symptom associated with this condition is a burning sensation after meals.

PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS

In primary biliary cirrhosis, the small bile ducts in the liver become inflamed, damaged and ultimately disappear.

PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and obstruction of the bile ducts.

ULCERTIVE COLITIS

This condition is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the large intestine – also known as the colon. The colon becomes inflamed with tiny open ulcers, which cause pain and bloody diarrhea.

WILSON'S DISEASE

Wilson 's disease is a genetic disease that prevents the body from removing extra copper. If untreated, high copper levels can cause life-threatening organ damage.

ANORECTAL MOTILITY TESTING

Anorectal motility testing helps physicians evaluate and diagnose patient with constipation or fecal incontinence.

BRAVO PROBE

This test takes two days and measures pH levels in the esophagus. By attaching a small capsule to the esophagus during an endoscopy, this test can be used to diagnose acid reflux.

BREATH TESTS

Breath testing can help physicians diagnose and evaluate a number of conditions associated with digestive disorders.

COLONOSCOPY

In a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a colonoscope, which is a flexible tube with a small video camera attached to it, into the anus so that he may look inside the entire large intestine to screen for polyps or cancerous cells.

ENDOSCOPY

Endoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin tube with a camera (endoscope) into the body to diagnose or, in some cases, treat a health condition.

ESOPHOGUS MOTILITY TESTING

Espophogeal motility testing helps physicians determine whether there is a problem with motility of the esophagus or the function of the lower esophageal sphincter.

ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND (EUS)

This type of ultrasound allows doctors to examine and obtain images of the esophagus, stomach lining and gastrointestinal tract for signs of inflammation and disease. A device is passed through the mouth or anus to create visual images of the upper or lower digestive tract.

ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY (ERCP)

This screening technique combines endoscopy and fluoroscopy (continuous X-ray imaging) to diagnose and treat certain conditions of the liver and pancreas.

SINGLE BALLOON ENTEROSCOPY

Single balloon enteroscopy is a technique that allows physicians to perform view and treat conditions in the small bowel using minimally invasive techniques.

SMALL BOWEL CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY

This procedure is an examination of the middle portion of the digestive tract, including the small intestine. The patient swallows a small, pill-sized capsule that contains a camera. As the camera makes its way through the body, doctors are able to view images of the small intestine.

SMALL BOWEL PUSH ENTEROSCOPY

Small bowel push enteroscopy is a procedure that allows diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the upper small intestine.

SPIRUS ENTEROSCOPY

Spiral enteroscopy is a technique that allows physicians to perform view and treat conditions in the small bowel using minimally invasive techniques.

BARXX

BARXX is an endoscopic procedure used to treat esophageal conditions resulting from chronic heartburn or reflux disease. An ablation catheter is used to remove abnormal cells created by the reflux. 

COMBINED ENDOSCOPIC AND LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (CELS)

Combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery (CELS) is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure where the gastroenterologist to grasp and remove colon polyps using an endoscope, eliminating the need for open surgery.

ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION (EMR)

EMR is a surgical procedure used to resect, or cut out, abnormal or cancerous cells from the lining of the digestive tract. To remove the lesions, a small tube is passed down the throat and another tube is inserted in the anus.

GASTIC PACEMAKERS

Gastric pacemakers electrically stimulate the stomach to help control chronic vomiting and nausea.

HEMMORHOIDAL BANDING

This procedure allows physicians to remove internal hemmorhoids by tying the hemmorhoid at its base with rubber bands, cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid.

INTERSTIM® THERAPY

This therapy is used to treat severe bladder control problems and is typically a last resort when other medical treatments have failed. The InterStim® system electrically stimulates the sacral nerves located near the tailbone control the bladder and muscles related to urinary function. 

LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

During laparoscopic surgery, a small, lighted tube is inserted through an incision in the abdomen. Laparoscopy can be used to find cysts, fibroid tumors and infections or to remove tissue that can be biopsied during the procedure.

STAPLED HEMORRHOIDOPEXY

This treatment method for hemorrhoids involves the surgical removal of abnormally large hemorrhoids and repositions the remaining tissue back to its normal anatomical position.

STAPLED TRANSANAL RECTAL RESECTION (STARR)

STARR is a surgical procedure that is performed through the anus, with no external incisions or visible scars. This procedure is used to remove excess tissue from the rectum.

VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY (VATS)

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in the chest region.