The gastrointestinal (GI) system is an extensive network of tubes and specialized organs that allow us to digest our food, remove nutrients and dispose of waste. Yet because of its complexity and the foreign matter we ingest every day, the system is susceptible to problems. Nearly 70 million Americans suffer from gastrointestinal disorders, which are responsible for the hospitalization of more people in this country than any other group of diseases.
At Georgetown GI, we offer physician expertise in each aspect of this intricate system. From screening and diagnosis to advanced treatment and research, our GI department is nationally recognized for providing the highest level of quality care.
Georgetown GI is organized into specialized sections. Some of the sections focus on specific parts of the digestive system, while others offer expertise in certain types of testing that can be used for several different parts of the body.
Endoscopic Expertise, Exceptional Success Rates
The endoscope, a thin, flexible telescope that allows specialists to examine most areas of the digestive system, is a marvel of engineering. At the end of the endoscope is a tiny television camera, which allows physicians to visualize the internal workings of our entire digestive system on a color television monitor. With special controls, the doctor can maneuver the tip of the endoscope, deliver laser beams or thermal energy, withdraw tissue samples and conduct any number of other diagnostic tests and treatments. While some endoscopies are now routine, many others require the expertise and experience gained through performing large numbers of procedures during complex cases.
Georgetown GI offers that level of expertise and experience with a staff of specialists in advanced endoscopic techniques. These physicians are skilled at maneuvering the endoscope in even the smallest of places in the GI tract and in the tiny ducts leading from the pancreas, liver and gallbladder. Despite the complex caseload at the center, Georgetown GI's success rates exceed national standards and are monitored continuously through hospital-based quality improvement programs.
