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Gastroenterology and Colorectal Surgery

A healthy digestive system is essential for the body as each part of your digestive system helps to move food and liquid through your GI tract providing your body with nutrients it needs from food and drink to function properly and stay healthy.

Southern Regional provides a full range of colon and rectal surgeries, including minimally-invasive options. And our GI/Endoscopy Unit features all new GI Scope (Olympus EVIS EXERA III video endoscopy system) to assure that our patients have access to one of the most advanced systems available today.

Our dedicated physicians and clinical team treat digestive issues like esophageal disorders, stomach and small bowel conditions, colonic disorders, and other diseases that involve the digestive system including the liver, pancreas, bile duct, and gallbladder. Our team provides a patient-centered experience from diagnosis to treatment; and guide each patient through an individualized recovery process.

For further information or appointments, contact us at 770-991-8000.

Essential Digestive Care

Screening and Diagnostic Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a procedures that looks at the inner lining of your intestine. A thin, flexible tube with a small video camera attached is used to look at the colon allowing your doctor to examine the whole colon and the lower part of the small intestine. This procedure helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. A colonoscopy can also be used as a screening test to check for cancer or precancerous growths as tissue samples can be collected (biopsy) and abnormal growths can be removed.

New screening guidelines recommend starting screening at age 45 for adults with an average risk of developing colorectal cancer. Screening guidelines by age are:

  • 45-75 — colonoscopy every 10 years for average-risk patients
  • 76-85 — selective testing based on individual factors, such as overall health, life expectancy, and previous screening history
  • 85 and up — not recommended

Your doctor may recommend screening younger than 45 if you have increased risk factors.

Upper Endoscopy

An upper endoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a camera attached, to see the lining of your upper GI tract. A gastroenterologist, surgeon, or other trained healthcare provider performs the procedure, most often while you receive light sedation. An upper GI endoscopy can determine unexplained symptoms, such as:

  • Persistent heartburn
  • Bleeding
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain
  • Problems swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss

Enteroscopy

A small bowel enteroscopy is a type of endoscopy procedure that may be used in the diagnosis and management of several different types of digestive condition evaluates gastrointestinal bleeding, small bowel tumors, polyps, or other small bowel diseases. During the procedure, the physician uses a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach, duodenum (first portion of the small bowel) and jejunum (the middle portion of the small bowel). This procedure can be used to treat various conditions of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as abnormal growths or bleeding.

Tube Placement / Replacement

A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube is a feeding tube that is surgically placed through your abdomen into your stomach. Your doctor uses a lighted flexible tube to view inside your stomach to complete the procedure.

Polypectomy

A polypectomy is the removal of a polyp. A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue projecting from a mucous membrane and are commonly found in the colon.