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GI Lab

Centinela Hospital’s Gastroenterology Lab (GI Lab) has undergone major enhancements and upgrades to greatly improve the quality of care we offer our patients.

We proudly utilize state-of-the-art HD Technology including 20 different new scopes to diagnose and treat uppers and lowers, streamlining our evaluations and treatment for our patients.

This important component of our service has grown to accommodate more than 2,298 inpatient and 790 outpatient procedures performed annually.

Our brand new ERCPs (Endoscopy Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography) allow our physicians to closely examine the GI duct systems of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas to quickly identify and treat problems in the abdominal region including stenting and sphincterotomy.

For further information, contact us at 310-673-4660

GI Lab

Screening and Diagnostic Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine. A thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope is used to look at the colon. The colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a small video camera attached at the end so that your doctor can take pictures or videos of the large intestine. The colonoscope can be used to look at the whole colon and the lower part of the small intestine.

A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. During a colonoscopy, tissue samples can be collected (biopsy) and abnormal growths can be taken out. A colonoscopy can also be used as a screening test to check for cancer or precancerous growths in the colon or rectum.

Screening colonoscopies examine the colon to make sure it’s healthy. If your doctor finds and removes a polyp (abnormal growth), or finds a mass that needs to be biopsied, then it’s considered a diagnostic colonoscopy. You may need a screening, or preventive, colonoscopy if you have:

  • Any symptoms of colorectal cancer
  • Personal history of colon cancer or colon polyps
  • A first-degree relative with a history of colon cancer or colon polyps

You may need a diagnostic colonoscopy if you have:

  • Iron-deficiency anemia
  • Persistent abdominal pain
  • Blood in stool or bleeding from rectum
  • A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days
  • Personal or family history of colon cancer or colon polyps

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. Your doctor may also call the procedure an EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

An upper GI endoscopy can help find the cause of unexplained symptoms, such as:

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

Small Bowel Enteroscopy

A small bowel enteroscopy is a test performed to evaluate 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). A small bowel enteroscopy may also 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. During this procedure, your doctor uses a lighted flexible tube called an endoscope. The endoscope allows your doctor to see inside your stomach as the procedure is being done.

Polypectomy

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

Scherotherapy

Scherotherapy is a popular method of eliminating superficial telangiectasias (spider veins) or reticular veins in which a solution, called a sclerosing agent, is injected into the veins.