Endoscopy is a minimally invasive
procedure used to help physicians more thoroughly
explore internal areas of the body, such as the
colon, esophagus and small bowel.
The instrument used for this
type of procedure is called an endoscope, but
its name and the procedure's name vary depending
on what area of the body is being explored. Akron
General performs these types of endoscopy procedures:
Anoscopy
Arthroscopy
Catheter-free pH monitoring
Bronchoscopy
Chorionic villus sampling
Colonoscopy
EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
Sigmoidoscopy
Small bowel biopsy
Small bowel evaluations using a capsule camera
Upper endoscopy
Some procedures require anesthesia
and are performed in an operating room. Many procedures,
however, are performed with moderate sedation
on an outpatient basis. Physician referral is
required to have endoscopic procedures at Akron
General Medical Center and at The Surgery Center
at Akron General Health & Wellness. For convenience,
both inpatient and outpatient endoscopy procedures
are done in one centralized location in the hospital.
Some outpatient endoscopic services are also available
at The Surgery Center at Akron General Health
& Wellness.
Advanced Technology for Faster
Diagnosis
Akron General offers two types
of testing with the newest technology in endoscopy
for patient comfort and convenience. The first
is the BravoTM pH Monitoring System, which uses
a small capsule, about the size of a gelcap to
collect and transmit data. This enables physicians
to analyze esophageal pH levels and gastric reflux
during the patient's every day activities. Abnormal
pH levels are often a sign of gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD).
The second of these technologies
is the Givens capsule. It's a tiny camera that
allows physicians to see the entire small intestine,
helping in the diagnosis of a range of small bowel
diseases, like Crohn's disease, gastrointestinal
bleeding and more. Akron General Medical Center
is one of the only hospitals in the area to offer
these technologies.
Surgeons and gastroenterologists
perform endoscopy procedures at Akron General
Medical Center. Patients must have a referral
by their physician for an endoscopy procedure.
