A branch of medicine which deals with disorders of the digestive system
Gastroenterology is the study of the function of the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and the diseases that affect it. The GI tract is made up of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, rectum, gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver. It covers conditions such as colon polyps, colon cancer, acid reflux, ulcers, colitis, gallbladder disease, biliary tract disease, hepatitis, GERD, and much more. Gastroenterology also studies the movement of the entire GI tract, digestion, liver function, waste removal from the body, and absorption of nutrients into the body.
Due to the extensive training that gastroenterologists receive in education and in the field, they provide patients with a high level of comprehensive care. Not only are they able to consult with patients in the clinic but they also perform a majority of procedures themselves. Common procedures performed by a gastroenterologist include: colonoscopy, EGD, hemorrhoid banding, enteroscopy, ERCP, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, and many more. Gastroenterologists also participate in innovative research to improve care for patients across the world.
What Are The Common Causes Of Abdominal Pain? Patients often have difficulty describing abdominal pain. Sometimes described as lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, upper stomach pain, stomach pain,...
VISIT OUR Abdominal Pain PAGEWhat Is An Ultrasound? Ultrasound is a simple, safe, painless diagnostic procedure that bounces high-frequency sound waves off parts of the body and captures the returning “echoes” as images....
VISIT OUR Abdominal Ultrasound PAGEWhat is Acid Reflux? When we swallow food or liquids they pass through our esophagus and into the stomach. In between the esophagus and stomach is a muscle called...
VISIT OUR Acid Reflux PAGEWhat is an Anal Fissure? An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the tissue that lines the anus. There is thin, delicate tissue called mucosa that...
VISIT OUR Anal Fissure PAGEWhat is Anorectal Manometry? Anorectal manometry is a test that is performed to evaluate the reflexes and strength of the muscles needed for performance of a normal bowel movement....
VISIT OUR Anorectal Manometry PAGEWhat Is Argon Laser Therapy? An argon laser is a device that uses argon gas and produces a beam of light with a wavelength that is absorbed only by...
VISIT OUR Argon Laser Therapy PAGEWhat Is Barium? Barium is an iodinated (iodine containing) contrast agent that is orally ingested to coat the intestinal tract. Thereafter, sequential x-ray images can be taken of the...
VISIT OUR Barium Studies of the Intestines PAGEWhat is Barrett’s Esophagus? Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Barrett’s Esophagus occurs when the normal tissue that lines the esophagus changes to resemble the tissue...
VISIT OUR Barrett's Esophagus PAGEWhat is a Biliary Obstruction? The biliary system is a series of ducts that helps transport bile from your liver to your gallbladder, and then to your small intestine...
VISIT OUR Biliary Obstruction PAGEWhat does blood in my stool mean? Blood in the stool means that there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. There are a handful of possible causes of...
VISIT OUR Bleeding or Blood in the Stool PAGEWhat Causes Bloating? Bloating commonly occurs due to the buildup of gas in the digestive tract, or retention of fluid. Understanding the causes of bloating can help you know...
VISIT OUR Bloating PAGEWhat is C. Difficile Colitis? Colitis refers to any time that the colon becomes inflamed. C. Difficile stands for clostridium difficile, also known as clostridioides difficile and is a...
VISIT OUR C. Difficile Colitis PAGEWhat Is A Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy? A small bowel capsule endoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a pill capsule, which has a camera and a battery in it,...
VISIT OUR Capsule Endoscopy PAGEWhat Is Celiac Disease? Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the body when you consume gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When...
VISIT OUR Celiac Disease PAGEWhat Is Colitis? Colitis is a condition that refers to the general inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Although Ulcerative Colitis is sometimes called colitis they are...
VISIT OUR Colitis PAGEWhat Is Colon Cancer? The colon is the last part of the digestive system where the body extracts water and salt from solid waste. Colon cancer occurs when tumorous...
VISIT OUR Colon Cancer PAGEWhat Is A Colonoscopy? A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into the rectum and advanced through the entire colon...
VISIT OUR Colonoscopy with Polypectomy PAGEWhat are Colorectal Polyps? Colorectal polyps, sometimes referred to as colon polyps, are a common occurrence in the United States. The term “colorectal” refers to the colon and the...
VISIT OUR Colorectal Polyps PAGEWhat Causes Constipation? Constipation is usually described as having fewer than three bowel movements in a week. Constipation occurs when the stool becomes too hard and dry. Your stool...
VISIT OUR Constipation PAGEWhat is Crohn’s Disease? Crohn’s Disease is a part of a group of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes uncomfortable inflammation of your digestive tract, namely your...
VISIT OUR Crohns Disease PAGEWhat Is Computed Tomography? Computed Tomography, also referred to as a CT or CAT scan, is an advanced radiological imaging modality in which an x-ray beam rotates around the...
VISIT OUR CT or CAT Scan - Computed Tomography PAGECyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a condition that occurs most commonly in young children, but can occur at any age. This condition involves repeated vomiting, or cycles of vomiting,...
VISIT OUR Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) PAGEWhat Is Diarrhea? Diarrhea can be defined as loose, watery bowel movements and usually happen more often than normal bowel movements. Having loose stools three times a day or...
VISIT OUR Diarrhea PAGEWhat Is Diverticulitis? Diverticulitis is a condition that could follow in a person with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis is a condition where small pouches or pockets called diverticula bulge through the...
VISIT OUR Diverticulitis PAGEWhat Is Diverticulosis? Diverticulosis is a disease where small pouches of your intestine bulge outward through the outer lining of the colon. While these pouches called diverticula can present...
VISIT OUR Diverticulosis PAGEWhat is Dysphagia? Dysphagia is a term used to describe someone’s inability or difficulty to swallow food or liquid. There are several reasons why someone might experience dysphagia. It...
VISIT OUR Dysphagia PAGEWhat Is Encopresis? Encopresis or fecal incontinence is when one passed the age of toilet training frequently passes stool into their clothing. Encopresis is typically diagnosed as a medical...
VISIT OUR Encopresis PAGEWhat is Endoscopic Mucosal Resection? Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an outpatient procedure that lets physicians remove tumors just beneath the gastrointestinal (GI) wall without surgery. Using an endoscope,...
VISIT OUR Endoscopic Muscosal Resection PAGEWhat Is An Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)? An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into either the mouth and...
VISIT OUR Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) PAGEWhat Is An Enteroscopy? An enteroscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into the mouth and advanced to the jejunum (the...
VISIT OUR Enteroscopy PAGEWhat Is Eosinophilic Esophagitis? Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory disease of the esophagus. When a certain type of white blood cell called eosinophil builds up in the lining...
VISIT OUR Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) PAGEWhat Is An ERCP? An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into the mouth and advanced to...
VISIT OUR ERCP - Endoscopic Retrograde Cholandiopancreatography PAGEWhat is Esophageal Dilation? Esophageal dilation is a procedure in which your doctor will dilate (stretch out) a narrowed or blocked area of your esophagus. Esophageal dilation is typically...
VISIT OUR Esophageal Dilation PAGEWhat Is Esophageal Impedance Testing? Esophageal impedance testing is also referred to as esophageal 24-hour impedance reflux monitoring. An esophageal impedance test measures the amount of acidic and non-acidic...
VISIT OUR Esophageal Impedance Testing PAGEWhat Is An Esophageal Motility Study? An esophageal motility study is a test designed to assess the contractile properties of the esophagus. To perform the procedure, a thin and...
VISIT OUR Esophageal Manometry (Motility Study) PAGEWhat is Esophageal Motility Disorder? Esophageal motility disorder, or esophageal dysmotility, is a condition where the muscles in your esophagus fail to contract and the esophagus does not properly...
VISIT OUR Esophageal Motility Disorder PAGEWhat Is Esophagitis? Esophagitis is the general term for inflammation of the esophagus, the tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can have several underlying...
VISIT OUR Esophagitis PAGEWhat Is An Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)? An esophagogastroduodenoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into the mouth and advanced to the duodenum...
VISIT OUR Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) PAGEWhat Is Fatty Liver Disease? There are two main types of fatty liver disease- nonalcoholic (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is a condition in which...
VISIT OUR Fatty Liver Disease PAGEWhat Is A Fecal Transplant? A fecal transplant, also known as fecal bacteriotherapy, is a transplant of stool from one person to another. This process allows good bacteria to...
VISIT OUR Fecal Transplant PAGEWhat is Feeding Tube Insertion (PEG)? Feeding tube insertion, or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), is a procedure in which a tube is placed directly into the stomach. The tube...
VISIT OUR Feeding Tube Insertion (PEG) PAGEWhat is FibroScan? FibroScan is a technology used by doctors to non-invasively examine your liver. The scan utilizes a specialized ultrasound machine to measure the state of fibrosis and...
VISIT OUR FibroScan PAGEWhat is a Fistula? The term fistula refers to an abnormal connection between two hollow organs in the body. Fistulae can occur as a result of injury or disease...
VISIT OUR Fistula PAGEWhat Is A Flexible Sigmoidoscopy? A flexible sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopic procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube or “scope” is placed into the rectum and advanced through the...
VISIT OUR Flexible Sigmoidoscopy PAGEWhat Is Gallbladder Disease? The gallbladder is an organ that stores and releases bile to aid in digestion. The term gallbladder disease is used to describe various issues and...
VISIT OUR Gallbladder Disease PAGEWhat is Gastric Sleeve Surgery? Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a procedure where your gastroenterologist will remove up to 80% of your stomach and join the remaining portions together to...
VISIT OUR Gastric Sleeve Surgery PAGEWhat Is Gastritis? Gastritis is a term that generally describes the inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach. Gastritis or stomach inflammation can increase the risk...
VISIT OUR Gastritis PAGEWhat Is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)? Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a term to describe the common experience of acid reflux in an individual. Acid reflux typically refers...
VISIT OUR GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease PAGEWhat Is H. Pylori? Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is a specific type of bacteria, found in the stomach, that mainly affects your digestive system. Most people never get sick...
VISIT OUR H. Pylori - Helicobacter Pylori PAGEWhat Is Hemorrhoid Banding? Hemorrhoids are inflamed veins in your lower rectum or your anus. A hemorrhoid can occur within your rectum (internally) or on your anus (externally). It...
VISIT OUR Hemorrhoid Banding PAGEWhat Are Hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids, or piles, are inflamed veins in your lower rectum or your anus. It typically occurs when the vein walls in your rectum or anus become...
VISIT OUR Hemorrhoids PAGEWhat is Hepatitis? Worldwide, 290 million people are living unaware that they have viral hepatitis. Hepatitis at its most basic definition is an inflammation of the liver. Most commonly...
VISIT OUR Hepatitis PAGEWhat is a Hiatal Hernia? Hiatal hernias are common in the United States. Your esophagus (food tube) passes through a small opening in your diaphragm before it attaches to...
VISIT OUR Hiatal Hernia PAGEWhat Is A HIDA Scan? HIDA stands for, hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid. A HIDA scan is considered nuclear medicine because of the use of a radioactive tracer to perform the...
VISIT OUR HIDA Scan PAGEWhat is IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a general term to describe inflammation in your digestive tract. IBD can be categorized into two similar but...
VISIT OUR IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease PAGEWhat is IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be best categorized as a group of chronic symptoms that occur within your digestive system. These symptoms can...
VISIT OUR IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome PAGEWhat Is Infusion Therapy? Some gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis require that you receive medication intravenously from time to time. This is carried out through intravenous...
VISIT OUR Infusion Therapy (IV Infusion) PAGEWhat is Iron Deficiency Anemia? Generally, anemia is when your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells and therefore cannot carry adequate oxygen to the body. Iron...
VISIT OUR Iron Deficiency Anemia PAGEWhat is Lactose Intolerance? Lactose intolerance is very common in the United States. Lactose is the main carbohydrate in milk and other dairy products. Your body can be “intolerant”...
VISIT OUR Lactose Intolerance PAGEWhat Is A Liver Biopsy? A liver biopsy is a procedure that involves obtaining a small piece of liver tissue, which is then analyzed in the laboratory. It may...
VISIT OUR Liver Biopsy (Percutaneous Liver Biopsy) PAGEWhat Is Liver Cirrhosis? The liver is an organ that performs many important functions in the body including filtering the blood of harmful toxins and breaking down fat. Liver...
VISIT OUR Liver Cirrhosis PAGEWhat is LiverMultiScan? LiverMultiScan is the leading non-invasive assessment of the liver. LiverMultiScan produces a report with measurements of your liver tissue health. This is done using a quick MRI scan that does not...
VISIT OUR LiverMultiScan PAGEWhat is Luminal Stent Placement? Luminal stent placement refers to the insertion of a stent into the internal gastrointestinal (GI) tract. “Luminal” refers to an open space or cavity...
VISIT OUR Luminal Stent Placement PAGEMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) What Is MRI? Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is another way of producing precise images of the body’s...
VISIT OUR MRI, MRA, MRCP PAGENASH or Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is also characterized by the build-up of fat in the liver that is accompanied by inflammation. Often found in patients who are overweight, have diabetes...
VISIT OUR Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) PAGEThe Orbera™ Intragastric Balloon is a weight loss aid for adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 40, and who have trouble losing weight with...
VISIT OUR Orbera™ Managed Weight Loss System PAGEOverStitch™ is a minimally invasive technique designed to reduce the volume of the stomach to assist with weight loss. The procedure is performed through a thin, flexible tube called...
VISIT OUR OverStitch PAGEWhat Is Pancreatic Cancer? Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. Most of the pancreas is made up of exocrine cells which from the exocrine glands...
VISIT OUR Pancreatic Cancer PAGEWhat Is Pancreatitis? The pancreas is a large gland that aids in the digestive process. It releases powerful digestive enzymes into the small intestine to help digest food and...
VISIT OUR Pancreatitis PAGEWhat Is PBC (Primary Biliary Cholangitis)? Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is a rare chronic liver disease. PBC is a progressive autoimmune disease that...
VISIT OUR PBC - Primary Biliary Cholangitis PAGEWhat are Peptic Ulcers? Peptic ulcers are open sores in your stomach (gastric ulcer) or upper small intestine (duodenal ulcer) that can cause pain, discomfort, and bleeding. The cells...
VISIT OUR Peptic Ulcers PAGEWhat is PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis)? Primary sclerosing cholangitis is similar to PBC (primary biliary cholangitis) but it affects the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. It causes...
VISIT OUR PSC - Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis PAGEWhat is Radiofrequency Ablation? Radiofrequency ablation is a pain-management, and treatment technique. The procedure uses an electrical current from a radio wave focused on a small area of tissue,...
VISIT OUR Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) PAGEWhat Is A SmartPill? The SmartPill is a small capsule that your gastroenterologist uses to monitor PH, pressure, transit time, and temperature throughout your entire GI tract. The small...
VISIT OUR SmartPill Test PAGEWhat is Stretta Therapy? Stretta Therapy is an excellent option for patients that have failed or are intolerant of drug therapy, offering an alternative to invasive surgery or georighn...
VISIT OUR Stretta Therapy PAGEThe Obalon Balloon System is an effective weight loss alternative for people who either don’t want or don’t qualify for weight loss surgery. Please note that the Obalon Balloon...
VISIT OUR The Obalon Balloon System PAGEWhat Is TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)? Total parenteral nutrition is a form of feeding your body the nutrients it needs by bypassing your digestive system and feeding nutrient-rich liquid...
VISIT OUR TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition PAGEWhat is Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)? Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is a minimally invasive treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Fundoplication is a surgical procedure where the lining of...
VISIT OUR Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) PAGEWhat is Ulcerative Colitis? Ulcerative Colitis is a part of a larger grouping of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The condition causes uncomfortable inflammation of your digestive tract,...
VISIT OUR Ulcerative Colitis PAGEWHAT IS A “VIRTUAL” COLONOSCOPY OR CT COLONOSCOPY? A CT colonoscopy is a CT scan of your abdomen after the colon has been gently filled with air. The scan...
VISIT OUR Virtual Colonoscopy PAGEGI Alliance’s Telemedicine Solution GI Alliance is a premier and the largest gastroenterology group in the country. As a premier healthcare provider, we are proud to now offer virtual...
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