When people hear “gastroenterologist,” they often associate that type of doctor with a colonoscopy. But do you know about the other treatments and procedures they provide? Here is a brief overview of common treatments to help you on your search to find the best gastroenterologist in your area!
Colonoscopy
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Colonoscopies are a vital procedure for all doctors in that field. Even the best gastroenterologist does colonoscopies on a regular basis. This is a very simple and routine procedure where your doctor uses a tool called a Colonoscope to look inside of your rectum and colon.
Colonoscopy with Polyp Treatment
During a colonoscopy, polyps may be identified and removed using a special tool on the colonoscope. Polyps are essentially just a clump of cells – found in the colon or rectum – but they can evolve into cancerous cells, thus causing colon cancer, so it is imperative that they are removed quickly.
EGD
EGD treatment is similar to a colonoscopy. The tool is much smaller, and it is used to take a look at the upper digestive tract. This helps gastroenterologists diagnose any issues you may have in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines.
Capsule Endoscopy
This procedure seems like something out of a science fiction story. Capsule Endoscopy is a way to record and take pictures along your whole digestive tract. The patient swallows a small camera – the size of a medicine capsule – and as the capsule-sized camera passes through your system, it records vital information and takes pictures to help your doctor diagnose and treat any issues you may be experiencing.
Because these procedures serve as preventative measures – as well as treatment – it is imperative that you do your research to find the best gastroenterologist in your area to ensure you get proper treatment.
