Verde Valley Medical Center’s mission is to provide you the best in quality and care – and diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases is no exception. VVMC has acquired advanced, high-definition endoscopic technology that allows physicians to view inside the GI tract and treat conditions using a minimally invasive approach. Compared to conventional systems, high-definition endoscopy provides physicians sharper images and better contrast.

“Just as high-definition resolution is the gold standard of television viewing, the newest innovation for physicians is using an endoscope paired with the super high-definition digital picture, giving us the clearest possible view of the body’s internal images,” said Michael McKinney, M.D., gastroenterologist on the Medical Staff at VVMC. “Whether physicians are performing a colonoscopy or trying to locate sources of bleeding, this technology allows us to magnify an area as small as the vascular and cellular structure. High-definition imagery is the latest advancement in medical tools and has a significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients.”

How Does It Work?

When patients have problems involving the GI tract, physicians like Dr. McKinney and Joyce L. Richards, D.O., the other gastroenterologist on VVMC’s Medical Staff, perform a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure known as endoscopy. Endoscopic screening tests provide important information to help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions and illnesses, including ulcers, inflammation and polyps.

Endoscopy refers to the use of an instrument called an endoscope—a thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and light on the end. The high-quality picture from the endoscope is shown on a high-definition television monitor, providing a clear and detailed view of the digestive tract. Upper endoscopes are passed through the mouth to visualize the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine, while lower endoscopes (colonoscopes) are passed through the rectum to view the colon, or large intestine. Other special endoscopes allow physicians to view portions of the pancreas, liver and gallbladder. The endoscopes are capable of viewing and taking images of an organ to assist physicians in performing biopsies or retrieving foreign objects.

“Once the image is captured on the screen, physicians can manipulate, magnify and interpret  color variations of the image to provide a definitive diagnosis,” said Dr. McKinney. “Patients also benefit from the latest design of endoscopes because they are smaller in diameter, which offers greater comfort for patients.”

An Array of Services

To treat problems involving the digestive tract and surrounding areas, physicians use advanced services, including:

Upper GI endoscopy can be helpful in the evaluation or diagnosis of various GI problems, including difficult or painful swallowing, pain in the stomach or abdomen, bleeding and identifying ulcers and tumors.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used primarily to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, including gallstones, inflammatory strictures (scars), leaks (from trauma and surgery), and cancer. ERCP combines the use of X-rays and endoscopy.

Esophageal stenting is performed on patients with obstruction of the digestive tract. The stents typically are placed in the esophagus, colon or the upper small bowel to relieve obstructions caused by cancer or allow perforations to heal without the need for surgery.

Colonoscopy is the best way to find colon cancer and the growths that could become cancerous. It is performed using a flexible scope, during which the physician examines the entire colon. It allows for screening, diagnosis and removal of polyps in a single visit. This simple 15 to 30-minute exam is recommended for adults 50 and older. Talk to your primary care physician about scheduling a colonoscopy – it could save your life.

More about gastrointestinal disorders

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract includes the esophagus, stomach, duodenum (the beginning of the small intestine), colon and bile duct. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 95 million people in the United States have digestive disorders, resulting in more than 10 million hospitalizations each year.

Disorders can be as varied as the organs that make up the tract, but can include:
• disorders that impair GI function, such as irritable bowel disease and constipation
• disorders that affect an organ’s structure, causing the organ to work improperly, such as internal hemorrhoids or a blocked
  bile duct
• disorders that include the presence of cancerous polyps, such as esophageal or colon cancer

Many GI conditions can be prevented or minimized by living a healthy lifestyle and consuming high-fiber, low-fat foods that promote a healthy GI tract. Particularly in the cancerous conditions affecting the GI tract, screenings play a vital role in maintaining your health. Because almost all GI cancers, such as colorectal cancer, begin as noncancerous growths known as polyps, physicians at Verde Valley Medical Center can use advanced high-definition equipment to detect and remove potentially cancerous lesions.

Speak to your VVMC physician about screenings you may need to keep your GI tract healthy.