Gastroenterology | Q&A | Interventional Diagnosis | Penn Medicine

Is It Okay To Continue Taking Iron Supplements Before Undergoing a Sigmoidoscopy?

2011-11-01T15:01:00.001-04:00

Question:
I am having a sigmoidoscopy procedure and I didn't stop taking my iron pills until two days before my procedure. Is that okay?

Answer:
Doctors ask their patients to stop taking any medications or supplements containing iron seven days prior to a sigmoidoscopy. Iron makes your stool very dark and may inhibit the internal examination of the lower large bowel.

To schedule a colonoscopy appointment with a Penn gastroenterologist who can perform a sigmoidoscopy procedure, please call 800-789-PENN (7366) or request an appointment online.

Why Would A Video Capsule Endoscopy Produce No Useful Pictures?

2011-10-31T15:04:00.001-04:00

Question:
My husband recently had a video capsule endoscopy and the report says it took only 14 minutes to pass through his small intestine and no useful pictures were produced. He did a colon prep the night before, but did not have any diarrhea that day. Can this be accurate? What would cause this to happen?

Answer:
Video capsule endoscopies or "wireless" endoscopies are a relatively new procedure introduced in 2001 to help diagnose small bowel diseases or disorders. It is performed by swallowing a capsule, which contains a tiny camera. The patient wears a data recorder and as the capsule makes its way through the digestive system, it transmits up to two pictures per second.

The capsule can transmit information for up to eight hours and the capsule is excreted normally and painlessly usually within 10 to 48 hours of ingesting. Certain situations can cause difficulty transmitting pictures, but it is unlikely that the capsule passed through the small bowel in just 14 minutes. David Jaffe, MD and Nuzhat Ahmad, MD are both Penn gastroenterologists who perform capsule endoscopies.

To make an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN (7366) or request an appointment online.

Do Physicians At Penn Medicine Use The MRCP Test?

2011-10-27T15:05:00.001-04:00

Question:
My wife has a GI problem and we are having a hard time getting a diagnosis. She is allergic to contrast dye so we are looking at the MRCP test. She has appointment at Penn in June. Do you use the MRCP test?

Answer:
Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes used as a diagnostic test alternative for patients who have iodine-related allergic reactions. An abdominal MRI provides detailed pictures of the belly area from many different views. MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) is a type of MRI that provides a view of the bile ducts, pancreatic duct and gallbladder. Your wife's Penn gastroenterologist will work with you to determine what testing is most appropriate for her condition.

Do Physicians At Penn Medicine Use The Double-Balloon Endoscopy?

2011-10-26T15:06:00.001-04:00

Question:
I have read that the double-balloon endoscopy gives doctors greater ability to diagnose and treat GI disorders. Does Penn use the double-balloon endoscopy?

Answer:
Yes, Penn Gastroenterology uses the double-balloon endoscopy (DBE). A technique similar to an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, DBE has the added benefit of inserting a scope down through the mouth or up from the colon. Two balloons help anchor the scope to the intestine as it inches along – allowing it to travel a greater distance. DBE allows us to visualize most, if not all of the small intestine and assists with intervention as well.

What Tests Should Be Done For Patients With High Serotonin Levels?

2011-10-24T15:07:00.001-04:00

Question:
What tests should be done when one has a high serotonin level? Is a gastroenterologist the right specialist to be consulted?

Answer:
The serum serotonin blood test – used to measure the serotonin level in the body – can fluctuate, but may indicate a carcinoid tumor. Additional blood and/or urine tests are used to diagnose this condition. Carcinoid tumors are rare, but if left untreated, can lead to carcinoid syndrome – a form of cancer. Carcinoid tumors usually develop in the gastrointestinal tract, but can also develop in the lungs and in very rare cases, the ovaries. A Penn gastroenterologist can evaluate your condition and risk factors for carcinoid tumors. As with all potential cancers, early diagnosis is important.
To schedule an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN (7366) or you can also request an appointment online.

Are Penn Physicians Familiar With Performing Esophageal Strictures?

2011-10-21T15:09:00.001-04:00

Question:
Are any Penn physicians familiar with using stents to widen a stricture in the esophagus? I have been told by my doctors that it would be risky to use the balloon dilation in my case because the tissue has been radiated and chance of perforation to the esophagus would be high. I had radiation from tonsil cancer and a neck dissection about eight years ago.

The stricture is approximately 8 - 10 mm wide and I eat mostly creamed soups - it takes about an hour for each meal and I feel like I may choke at least once a day. What risks would be involved trying to dilate with a stent and do you think the risks would outweigh the benefits for me? I am now in remission and would like to better my quality of life.

Answer:
An esophageal stricture – or narrowing of the esophagus – can be caused by several conditions, including radiation treatment. Esophageal dilation is a procedure that stretches a narrowed area of the esophagus. Various techniques are used for this procedure and advances in stent technology and balloon dilation provide new options for treatment. A Penn gastroenterologist can evaluate your condition and recommend the best treatment, as well as advise you of the risks involved.

To make an appointment, please call 800-789-PENN (7366) or you can also request an appointment online.