What is advanced interventional endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a procedure where a small, flexible, lighted tube is used to look at an area of your gastrointestinal track (esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, gallbladder, etc.) or pulmonary system (lungs, trachea, brochials). Endoscopy was originally a diagnostics procedure. Advanced interventional endoscopy, sometimes referred to as "surgical endoscopy," is a highly specialized field where fellowship-trained physicians use new technology to perform minimally invasive therapeutic or palliative surgical procedures.
This provides patients with treatment or comfort from certain diseases or cancers without open surgery. An advanced interventional endoscopic physician has completed an additional accredited fellowship that allows them to have the training to perform minimally invasive procedures using new technologies through the endoscope. These include a wide variety of procedures throughout the chest and abdomen to treat conditions that required a traditional surgical approach with open or laparoscopic surgery. The procedure may also be a way to treat symptoms in the setting of cancer for comfort care.
Parkview Physicians Group – Gastroenterology Oncology has expertise in gastrointestinal cancers and surgical endoscopy and are currently running a number of clinical trials with Parkview Research Center and number of universities.
Why would I see an advanced endoscopic interventionalist?
There are a wide variety of reasons why you may require an advanced interventional endoscopist. These include:
- A procedure to look at your pancreas, bile duct, or other spot on your GI tract or center of your chest with greater detail than offered by traditional radiology.
- The removal or treatment of a precancerous condition through the use of an endoscope without open or laparoscopic surgery.
- The placement of a stent to help treat a blockage in your bile duct/liver.
- The staging of a cancer.
- Treatment of complex esophageal strictures.
- The treatment or removal of a cancer.
- The removal of stones from the bile duct.
- The drainage of a cyst without open or laparoscopic surgery.
- The treatment of a blockage called a stricture in a portion of your GI tract.
- Other new cancer related procedures.
- Evaluation or treatment of reflux.
- Placement of feeding tubes.
- Other additional endoscopic intervention.
What procedures does an advanced endoscopic interventionalist do?
- Endoscopic ultrasound for cancer staging (used to plan cancer treatment)
- Pancreas
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Rectal
- Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
- Ampullary
- GIST/Carcinoid/Foregut mucosal tumors
- Mediastinal masses
- Central Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
- Endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration and core-guided biopsy (used to diagnose cancer or other diseases)
- Pancreas and other organs
- Masses – mediastinum and abdomen
- Left Lobe of liver (metastatic disease or for other biopsy purposes)
- Lymph nodes in chest, retroperitoneum, and abdomen
- Endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial FNA (EBUS)
- Mediastinal nodule and lymph node staging
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Pancreatic stone removal
- Pancreatic stent placement
- Spyglass cholangioscopy & metal stent placement
- Evaluation and biopsy of stricture
- Intraductal lithotripsy for large stones
- Enteral stent placement
- Esophagus
- Duodenum
- Colon
- Radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's Esophagus
- Transgastric pancreatic cyst drainage with pancreatico-cyst gastrostomy
- Endoscopic placement of tubes
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy- “PEG”
- Jejunostomy
- Russell Peg tube placement
- “Russell” for potentially resectable squamous cell cancer of head and neck – avoids metastasis without dragging through the mouth and esophagus
- Endoscopic ultrasound guided procedures
- Drainage of cysts and fluid collections in the abdomen and pelvis
- Fiducial marker placement for CyberKnife
- Cryoablation
- Esophagus (Esophageal cancer and Barrett’s)
- Stomach (stomach cancers)
Do I need a referral from a family practice physician to see an advanced endoscopic interventionalist?
Most patients will be referred to these physicians from their primary physicians for treatment or diagnosis of diseases.
How do I make an appointment to see an advanced endoscopic interventionalist?
To make an appointment to see an advanced endoscopic interventionalist, call Parkview Physicians Group – Gastroenterology Oncology (260) 266-5221 or (260) 266-5224.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
During your first appointment you will need to bring your:
- Insurance card
- Driver’s license or other state/federally issued identification
- List of medications
- Any paper work that you received
What can I expect during my first appointment?
You may have a physical to help your specialist gain a better understanding of the problems you have been experiencing. Your specialist will also ask you many questions about:
- Your symptoms
- Past or recent illnesses
- Surgeries that you may have had in the past so that the specialist can better understand your needs