Endoscopy & Colonoscopy
Goodall provides endoscopy and colonoscopy services in Sanford and a full array of Gastroenterology and Hepatology services in Kennebunk, bringing the services you need, closer to home.
Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person’s digestive tract. Using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, your provider can view pictures of your digestive tract on a color TV monitor.
During an upper endoscopy, an endoscope is easily passed through the mouth and throat and into the esophagus allowing the provider to view the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.
Why Do I Need an Endoscopy?
Providers will often recommend endoscopy to evaluate:
- Stomach pain
- Ulcers, gastritis, or difficulty swallowing
- Digestive tract bleeding
- Changes in bowel habits (chronic constipation or diarrhea)
- Polyps or growths in the colon
In addition, your provider may use an endoscope to take a biopsy (removal of tissue) to look for the presence of disease.
Endoscopy may also be used to treat a digestive tract problem. For example, the endoscope might not only detect active bleeding from an ulcer, but devices can be passed through the endoscope that can stop the bleeding. In the colon, polyps can be removed through the scope to prevent the development of colon cancer.
Moreover, using ERCP, gallstones that have passed outside the gallbladder and into the bile duct can be removed using the endoscope.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which your large bowel (colon and rectum) is examined.
Your provider may perform the procedure to diagnose and treat, when possible, certain diseases of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the rectum and colon.
A colonoscopy may be used to evaluate many problems, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Anemia (low red blood cells)
- Blood in the stool
- Change in bowel habits
- Screen for colon cancer
- Unexplained weight loss
It is often used to treat certain diseases, such as:
- Bleeding from diverticula or other lesions can be treated by injecting medicine around them or by applying heat to cauterize or seal them.
- Polyps, some of which may be cancerous, can be removed using a lasso-like device through the colonoscope.
- Narrowed areas or strictures can often be dilated using a balloon.
Providers
Sanford:
Kennebunk:
