Virginia Hospital Center has been at the forefront of gastroenterology—the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts—throughout its history. Ours was the first hospital in Northern Virginia to offer capsule endoscopy and remains a leader in delivering high-tech services.
Benefits of the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center include:
- Private rooms for patients and families
- State-of-the-art technology
- Highly trained staff of eighteen registered nurses, ten GI technicians, and fourteen physician specialists
- Both a GI technician and a registered nurse are required to be present at every procedure
- Simple registration process, reduced waiting times, and emphasis on patient comfort
- Convenient location with easy parking access
- Consistently high scores in patient satisfaction surveys
The Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center offers the following procedures for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases:
- Upper Endoscopy (EGD) - a screening of the upper GI tract for diseases and disorders such as chronic heartburn (acid reflux) and Barrett's Esophagus (a precancerous condition caused by chronic acid reflux).
- Colonoscopy - "The gold standard in screening for colon cancer," Dr. Gupta states.
- Endoscopic Retrograde (ERCP) - a procedure that enables visualization of the biliary ducts to screen for and diagnose both tumors and stones. The procedure can also be used to remove stones that have lodged in the common bile duct, and to place stents—small metal and plastic inserts—which will keep ducts open and functioning.
- 24-hour Monitoring for Acid Reflux - physicians correlate the patient's recorded observations with the results of the pH monitor, to determine how fluctuations in acidity relate to symptoms.
- Capsule Endoscopy, which diagnoses diseases in the small intestine (Virginia Hospital Center was the first Hospital in Northern Virginia to offer capsule endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound)
- Esophageal Motility - monitors swallowing problems and atypical chest pain.
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