Advanced Endoscopy
Visit learnaboutbarretts.com for more information regarding RFA and the Barrx procedure.
In addition to performing routine upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, EPGI is pleased to offer many advanced endoscopic procedures. Many of the EPGI physicians perform Barrx – an RFA system – at Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest Campus.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Endoscopic ultrasound is a procedure that is performed to provide your physician with detailed images of your digestive tract that other endoscopic procedures or imaging tests are unable to provide. It can help diagnose certain conditions that may cause abdominal pain or abnormal weight loss in addition to evaluating previously detected abnormalities including lumps or lesions. EUS also provides access to adjacent organs to detect diseases of the pancreas, bile duct, and gallbladder.
EUS allows our providers to diagnose and stage esophageal, gastric, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic cancer, screen high- risk individuals for pancreatic cancer, evaluate and risk stratify pancreas cysts, drain pancreatic fluid collections, biopsy liver lesions and adjacent lymph nodes amongst many other indications.
Drs. Hiral Shah, Shashin Shah, Zachary Zator and Travis Magdaleno are proud to be four of only a few local physicians who perform endoscopic ultrasounds among a number of other advanced endoscopic procedures.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is a specialized endoscopic procedure used to study the bile ducts and pancreatic duct. ERCP is performed to treat bile duct stones, tumors or narrow areas (strictures) of the bile ducts. ERCP allows for direct visualization of the bile duct (choledochoscopy and pancreatoscopy) as well as stent placement for relief of bile duct and/or pancreatic duct obstruction.
Treatment of Barrett’s esophagus
Our advanced endoscopy physicians carefully evaluate patients with Barrett’s esophagus with advanced imaging techniques and are well versed in providing all treatments for Barrett’s esophagus including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryotherapy, hybrid APC and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).
Double Balloon Enteroscopy (DBE)
Double Balloon Entersocopy, or DBE, is also sometimes referred to as “push-pull enteroscopy”. It is the only endoscopic technique that allows complete examination of the small bowel. Dr. Anastasia Shnitser and Dr. Hiral Shah and Dr. Aaron Mendelson are proud to be the only local physicians performing Double Balloon Enterosocopy. They have been performing the procedure at Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest Campus since December 2014.
Colonoscopy with endoscopic mucosal resection
20% of women and 30% of men will have polyps detected by screening colonoscopy. Some polyps are too large for standard polypectomy. Our advanced endoscopists can use various advanced endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) techniques to remove these large polyps.
Doctors Shashin Shah, Hiral Shah, Zach Zator and Travis Magdaleno are four of only a few local physicians who perform the advanced endoscopic procedures listed above.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) therapy is a safe and effective treatment of Barrett’s esophagus. During RFA radio waves are delivered via a catheter to remove diseased tissue of the esophagus while having minimal impact to the healthy tissue. This process is called ablation. Treating Barrett’s esophagus is important because it not only removes diseased tissue, it can prevent the development of Esophageal Cancer.