An endoscopy allows your health care provider to take a look at the inside parts of your body without the need for major surgery. At Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., the team of expert gastroenterologists, including Lance Lasner, MD, and Nisha Chand, MD, performs endoscopy procedures to examine the lining of your digestive tract. To find out more about endoscopy procedures at the nationally recognized practice, call the office in Centreville, Sterling, or Chantilly, Virginia, or schedule an appointment online today.
Endoscopy refers to various procedures that use special tools that allow health care providers to evaluate your internal organs without the need for large surgical incisions.
During an endoscopy, providers use an endoscope, which is a thin flexible tube with a tiny surgical camera and light. This camera transmits live-action images of your internal body parts onto a computer monitor for evaluation and treatment.
The expert team at Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., performs endoscopy procedures to look at your digestive system.
Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., provides many types of endoscopy procedures. These types include:
During an upper endoscopy, your gastroenterologist at Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., uses an endoscope to look at the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of your small intestine — the duodenum.
This procedure is also known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
For a colonoscopy, the team evaluates the lining of the large intestine. This is one of the gold standard tests for colon cancer screening.
A capsule endoscopy involves swallowing a pill-sized camera that takes thousands of pictures as it travels through your digestive tract. The capsule endoscopy allows the team at Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., to see parts of your digestive tract not accessible with an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy.
Though there are many types of endoscopic procedures, in most cases, an endoscopy refers to an EGD, or upper endoscopy.
Your gastroenterologist or primary care provider explains in detail why you need an upper endoscopy. They may recommend this diagnostic procedure to determine the underlying cause of your anemia, abdominal pain, nausea, or unexplained weight loss.
The upper endoscopy may help diagnose digestive conditions such as:
The team may also recommend an upper endoscopy to treat esophageal strictures, stop upper GI bleeding, or remove polyps.
The Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., team provides specific instructions on the steps you need to take to prepare for your endoscopy.
It’s important to follow these bowel prep instructions as directed to remove all debris from your digestive tract to ensure you get a thorough evaluation.
To learn more about endoscopy at Northern Virginia Gastroenterology, P.C., call the office most convenient to you or schedule an appointment online today.
