Endoscopic Procedures – General

The UK Endoscopy Center offers a range of diagnostic endoscopic procedures that allow for early detection and treatment of various GI conditions.

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy:
  This procedure enables evaluation of lower parts of the digestive tract without requiring the patient to prepare the colon by such methods as drinking solutions to clean the bowel.
• Colonoscopy:
  Routine screening colonoscopies are recommended for African Americans older than 45 and anyone older than 50 to detect colon polyps that could become cancers. Diagnostic colonoscopies are similar tests performed after appearance of a symptom, such as bleeding from the rectum, or detection of suspicious colon damage.
• Endoscopic bleeding management:
  When a patient vomits blood or passes bloody stools, various techniques are available at the UK Endoscopy Center to control bleeding, such as using heat therapy, injecting certain substances or applying small rubber bands or other devices.
• Percutaneous gastrostomy:
  For patients who are unable to safely swallow food (because of issues including narrowing of the esophagus, cancers or neurological diseases), a feeding tube can be placed through the skin into the stomach.
• Capsule endoscopy:
  A patient swallows a special pill with embedded cameras. An external receiver carried by the patient gathers pictures from throughout the length of the digestive tract for about 48 hours. Our team downloads the pictures from the receiver to make a diagnosis. The procedure is particularly effective when bleeding is suspected from hard-to-reach areas of the digestive tract.