Archbold offers the following hospital-based, advanced gastrointestinal
procedures in Thomasville, Georgia:
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows in-depth examination of the wall of
the GI tract to assess the extent of tumors within its wall. The upper
GI tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and small bowel;
the lower tract includes the colon and rectum. EUS is also used to study
other organs that are adjacent to the GI tract by imaging through the
wall of the GI tract using the ultrasound beam. Such organs include the
lungs, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, adrenal glands, kidneys and lymph
nodes. Under EUS guidance a thin needle can be introduced through the
GI wall into these organs to non-invasively take a biopsy of the liver,
tumors, cysts, abnormal “suspicious” lymph nodes or other lesions.
EUS is often used to diagnose certain conditions that could be the cause
of abdominal pain or abnormal weight loss.
EUS is also used to examine and/or take a biopsy of known abnormalities,
including lumps or lesions, which were detected previously via endoscopy,
computed tomography (CT) scan or MRI.
ERCP is a procedure used to examine a patient’s pancreatic and bile
ducts, the small tubes that carry pancreatic juice and bile from your
pancreas and liver to the first portion of the small intestine (the duodenum)
to aid digestion. During an ERCP procedure, a flexible, lighted tube called
an endoscope is inserted through your mouth, into your stomach, and into
the duodenum. The endoscope allows your physician to find the opening
of the bile duct and pancreatic duct and insert a catheter in these ducts
to inject a special dye that is opaque to X-rays and allows visualization
of the ducts under X-ray (fluoroscopy). The physician can also insert
a tiny endoscope (called a cholangioscope or pancreatoscope) through the
larger endoscope and then up the bile duct or pancreatic duct to perform
“cholangiscopy” or “pancreatoscopy” (i.e., visualize
the inside of the ducts directly). This allows detection and removal of
stones, placement of stents to facilitate drainage of bile or pancreatic
juice in patients where there is obstruction by stones or tumors and other
therapeutic interventions.
ERCP is commonly used to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder,
bile ducts, and pancreas. Your doctor may recommend an ERCP if you are
experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Unexplained abdominal pain
Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
Blockage or stones in the bile duct or pancreatic duct
Fluid leakage from the bile ducts (“bile leak”), which can
occur after gallbladder or liver surgery
Blockage or narrowing of the bile ducts
Tumors in the pancreas, liver, and/or bile ducts
Infection in the bile ducts
To make a referral to Archbold Advanced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy program,
call Archbold Gastroenterology at
229.584.7636.
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