Most procedures are performed under pediatric anesthesia to make the child comfortable and completely asleep. They do not experience pain, and often do not remember the procedure, which minimizes stress and anxiety for children as well as parents.
The following are common procedures to diagnose or treat conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and other digestive organs:
Anorectal Manometry
This is a special pressure sensor used to screen for short-segment Hirschsprung’s disease (nonfunctioning distal colon), as well as other disorders of defecation (pooping). It is an outpatient test that takes about 30 minutes.
Breath Testing
For bacterial overgrowth, or fructose or lactose intolerance, this is a simple outpatient test where the child drinks a liquid and then breathes into a tube that tests for the presence of too many intestinal bacteria, or poor absorption/digestion of certain sugars.
Capsule Endoscopy
“The camera pill” makes a movie of the intestinal tract as it passes through, looking for hidden areas of bleeding or inflammation that can be difficult to get to with standard endoscopy or colonoscopy. The pill may be swallowed or placed using endoscopy.
Colonoscopy
A flexible camera is used to examine the lower portion of the GI tract (the large intestine and the end of the small intestine, or ileum).
Esophageal Manometry
This test is used on children with swallowing difficulties to determine if the esophagus is functioning and squeezing normally. It is a 30-minute outpatient test.
Gastrostomy Tube Placement
This surgical procedure places a feeding tube for children with significant feeding issues. We use endoscopic guided surgical placement to ensure a good fit.
Impedance-pH Monitoring
A 24-hour test measures a child's level and frequency of gastroesophageal reflux. Young patients often spend the night in the hospital for this test.
Liver Biopsy
A small needle is passed through the skin to take a small sample of liver tissue to look at under a microscope. This test is useful in diagnosing hepatitis and jaundice.
Upper Endoscopy
A flexible camera is used to examine the upper portion of the GI tract (the esophagus, stomach and duodenum). Small biopsies are usually taken to examine tissue under a microscope and look for inflammation, infection or allergy.
