GI Procedures
Our gastrointestinal team of specialists are experienced experts in the treatment of GI diseases. With our advanced GI lab, we’re able to offer diagnostic, preventive procedures and treatments that can comprehensively care for digestive diseases.
GI Diagnostic Procedures
When you’re having GI difficulties, you want answers and a treatment plan quickly, so you can get back to your life. We offer a wide range of diagnostic procedures in our GI lab to identify how to best treat your problem. These can range from blood and stool testing, X-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasounds, barium swallow and colonoscopies.
Endoscopic Procedures
An endoscopy is a procedure that uses an endoscope to examine the digestive tract. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a camera lens at the end. It may also have a tool that removes tissue to be examined under a microscope for signs of disease.
Our advanced GI lab is equipped for many of these state-of-the-art screens, which include upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer is one of the most common — and preventable — types of cancers in both men and women. If you’re 45 or older, it’s important to get a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. If you have a family history of the disease or certain conditions affecting the colon, you may need to get this important exam earlier. Should your test have an abnormal result, Christian Hospital has the experienced team you need to offer further treatment.
Colon Polyps
A colon cancer screening, or colonoscopy, can detect colon polyps, which are growths on the inner walls of the large intestine and colon. These polyps typically take eight to 10 years to grow into cancer, so a colonoscopy gives the opportunity to find and remove polyps before they have the chance to become cancerous. Any polyp removed during a colonoscopy is examined under a microscope. If cancer is present in the polyp, the oncology team at Christian Hospital will be ready to personalize a treatment plan.
Christian Hospital and Northwest HealthCare, members of BJC HealthCare, provide world-class medical care to the communities of North County, Greater St. Louis County and Southern Illinois.