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Gastroenterology

Preparing for Your Procedure

Help us make your GI procedure go as smoothly as possible by reading about what to expect and how to prepare.

Everyone experiences the occasional upset stomach, heartburn, or other digestive or gastrointestinal problem. But, if you have a GI issue that won’t go away or that interferes with daily activities, it may be time to see a gastroenterologist.

Gastroenterologists specialize in diagnosing and treating problems in the digestive tract. The digestive tract includes the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, colon and rectum.

One of the best GI labs in Kansas City is located on our campus. The lab performs nearly 60 procedures every day, and works closely with our gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal and colorectal surgeons, meaning you can be confident in the care you receive.

Conditions We Treat

Surgeries and Procedures

If you require surgery, our gastrointestinal and colorectal surgeons offer minimally invasive approaches for many procedures.

Bowel obstruction surgery
Capsule endoscopy, which takes pictures of the digestive tract
Colonoscopy
Colorectal surgery
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to help diagnose diseases of the gallbladder, liver and pancreas
Endoscopic ultrasound to examine the esophagus, stomach and gastrointestinal tract (EUS)
Esophageal pH tests to measure the amount of acid that flows from the stomach into the esophagus
Evaluation of esophagus function
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)
Feeding tube placement
Gastrointestinal surgery
Removal of cancerous lesions from the digestive tract (endoscopic mucosal resection)
Removal of diseased esophageal tissue (HALO radiofrequency ablation for Barrett’s esophagus)
Single balloon enteroscopy to find and treat digestive issues
Upper endoscopy (EGD) to find digestive problems

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer has the second highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S. It affects both men and women. Colorectal cancer typically develops from precancerous growths in the colon or rectum. Having a colonoscopy on a regular basis can detect abnormal growths so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. The test can also detect colorectal cancer early, when it is highly curable.

Risk Factors

You can’t control some risk factors, like your age, family history, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease. You can control other risk factors, such as

Excessive alcohol use
Lack of exercise
Obesity (having too much fat around the waist)
Smoking
Your diet

Signs and Symptoms of Colon or Rectal Cancer

Change in bowel habits or stools that are narrower than usual
Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
Stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness or cramps)
Unexplained anemia
Unexplained weight loss

Colorectal Screening Guidelines

Our gastroenterologists recommend the following colorectal screening schedule:

Initial screening at age 50; age 40 for African Americans
If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, get an initial screening 10 years before the affected family member’s age at diagnosis.
- For example, if your mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 45, have your first screening at age 35.