To better serve the community, Inova Loudoun Hospital is expanding its gastrointestinal services to be more comprehensive. To support this growth, a brand-new endoscopy suite was open in November 2015.
“It’s exciting that as our endoscopy services are expanding, the hospital’s vision supports that growth,” says Satinder Gill, MD, Chairman of the Gastroenterology Section.
The new endoscopy suite will provide comprehensive endoscopic techniques to diagnose and treat conditions in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.
“The No. 1 procedure we do is colonoscopies for cancer screening,” says Dr. Gill. “We also provide upper endoscopy procedures that evaluate the esophagus for damage from acid reflux. And the endoscope can also visualize the stomach for symptoms of abdominal pain. In addition, we will provide care for patients with chronic gastroenterological problems like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.”
In the new suite, patients with complex conditions will have the opportunity to receive advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The highly skilled team will offer endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to search for problems with the bile duct such as stones or tumors, or problems with the pancreas. To treat patients with a tumor in the colon, bile duct or esophagus, physicians will have the capability to perform stent placement to open digestive pathways. The team will also offer percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to assist patients who have difficulty with feeding and nutrition.
“The new suite is going to be large enough to handle all of the ancillary equipment that is required for specialty procedures, and the imaging technology is going to be even better,” says Dr. Gill.
In addition to added services for adults, the new endoscopy suite at Inova Loudoun Hospital will also provide expanded pediatric services.
“Currently, children with any kind of digestive diseases generally have to go to Fairfax for their care. Now children with abdominal pain, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease or any gastrointestinal digestive diseases will be able to have procedures such as colonoscopies, endoscopies and reflux evaluations here in their community,” says Ian Leibowitz, MD, Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology. “We’re very happy to expand the services we’re providing to the pediatric community at Inova Loudoun Hospital.”
To prevent colon cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends getting your first colonoscopy at age 50; for African Americans the recommended age is 45. The gold standard of colon cancer prevention, colonoscopy is both therapeutic as well as diagnostic. Your doctor can detect and remove polyps in your colon during the exam. Precancerous polyps can turn into colon cancer, which is why it’s important to have them removed.
“Colon cancer is extremely preventable,” says Dr. Gill. “Over the last three decades, a significant reduction in colon cancer incidence isattributable to the use of colonoscopy.”
To request a referral to a gastroenterologist at Inova Loudoun Hospital, call 1.855.My.Inova (1.855.694.6682).
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