Gastroenterology treats stomach and intestine disorders of the digestive system. Procedures performed in gastroenterology include colonoscopy, liver biopsy, and E.G.D. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy, which are minimally-invasive procedures used for the early detection for colon cancer.

Gastroenterology Staff Razi Arifuddin, MD Ravi Chittajulu, MD Yamini Maddala, MD Prasad S. Vallurupalli, MD

Gastroenterology is more commonly known as the treatment of stomach and intestine disorders of the digestive system. Procedures that fall into the realm of gastroenterology include colonoscopy, liver biopsy; EGD, an endoscopic test which allows viewing of the upper GI tract; balloon dilatation, and the BRAVO pH monitoring system. Other gastroenterology procedures include feeding tube placement, liver biopsy, inspection of the rectum and sigmoid colon with a sigmoidoscope (flexible sigmoidoscopy), and withdrawing fluid from a body cavity (paracentesis).

Of all of the gastroenterology procedures, colonoscopy may be the most familiar gastroenterology procedure to most people. The gastroenterology specialists at Methodist McKinney Hospital follow the same recommendation put forth by The American Cancer Society that men and women over the age of 50 should undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years to screen for cancer. Colonoscopy and flexible signoidoscopy are minimally invasive procedures that doctors of gastroenterology use to detect colon cancer. One other test for colorectal cancer is high-sentivity fecal occult blood test. Because this test doesn't get inside the colon or rectum, a doctor of gastroenterology would recommend this test be done every month. Both the American Cancer Society and Methodist McKinney Hospital believe that the removal of suspicious cells is the best prevention of colon cancer.

Be sure to contact a doctor of gastroenterology if you experience blood in your stool during a bowel movement, stomach pain, aches or cramps that don't go away or if you have unexplained weight loss.

March is the national observance for colorectal cancer awareness month. Because ninety percent of colon cancer cases occur in people, both male and female, age fifty and older, many doctors of gastroenterology believe that if everyone age fifty and older were screened for colorectal cancer, sixty percent of deaths from colon cancer could be avoided.

The name gastroenterology is the combination of three Greek words. Gaster or gastros means stomach, enteron means stomach, and the word logos stands for reason. The study of gastroenterology encompasses the organs that run from the mouth all the way down to the anus. Gastroenterology is practiced by gastroenterologists. A doctor of gastroenterology spends eight years in pre-medical and medical training. After that, those doctors of gastroenterology take part in a three year residency and additional two to three years in a gastroenterology fellowship. For more information on gastroenterology services, please contact a doctor of gastroenterology at Methodist McKinney Hospital.

Methodist McKinney Hospital promotes the recommendation from The American Cancer Society that men and women over the age of 50 undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years or a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years to screen for possible signs of cancer. The removal of suspicious cells is believed to be the best prevention of colon cancer.

Our common gastroenterology procedures include:

• E.G.D.
• Colonoscopy
• Balloon dilitation
• BRAVO pH monitoring system
• Liver biopsy
• Feeding tube placement
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Paracentesis