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Balloon Endoscopy Center - Altoona, PA

Altoona Gastroenterologist Doctors for Balloon Endoscopy

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Altoona *

Digestive Disorders Inc
Jonathan Grier
2525 9th Ave
STE 2A
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 941-7170

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Rajih A Alkhafaji
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Edmond Bouassaf
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Ronald J Brzana
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Lance C DeFrancisco
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Brian D Dodson
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Ralph D McKibbin
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Todd E Stull
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

James E Schall MD
James E Schall
12227 Warm Springs Ave
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-4876

Huntington Gastroenterology Associates
Michael F Gaugler
820 Bryan St
STE 1
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-1141

Huntington Gastroenterology Associates
Keith A Waddle
820 Bryan St
STE 1
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-1141

Digestive Health Physicians
Hira L Koul
321 Main St
STE 3F
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814) 535-1500

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Richard C Leib
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Premnath Narahari
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Rudolph Schilli
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Geisinger Medical Group
Jeffrey L Lichtenstein
200 Scenery Dr
Gastroenterology FL 2nd
State College, PA 16801
(814) 231-6268

DMC Gastroenterology
Juan J Carrere
621 S Main St
Du Bois, PA 15801
(814) 371-0600

Mary Anne Barnicle MD
Mary Anne Barnicle
15 S 8th St
STE 300
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 463-8850

Shirish A Amin MD
Shirish A Amin
1265 Wayne Ave
119 Professional Ctr STE 301
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 465-6650

Juniata Valley Gastro Association
Charles W Everhart
310 Electric Ave
STE 100
Lewistown, PA 17044
(717) 242-2531

Juniata Valley Gastro Association
Joel B Haight
310 Electric Ave
STE 100
Lewistown, PA 17044
(717) 242-2531

Somerset Surgical Associates
Victor Novak
223 S Pleasant Ave
Med-Cor Ctr Bldg STE 302
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-2123

Mohammad J Saadat MD
Mohammad J Saadat
105 W Church St
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-5099

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Mark P Dobish
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
John G Enders
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Wayne C Hoover
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
M Farooq Khokhar
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Chad E Potteiger
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chestnut Ridge Primary Care East
Chandrasekhara Rao Punukollu
555 Route 217
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724) 694-2723

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
Bruce A Bradley
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
David L Hykes
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
Douglas E Klions
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
William J Provance
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Sarfraz Ahmad
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Robert DeJesus
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Rachelle Johns
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Juan A Lora
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Owais Rahim
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Rupam Sharan
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Pradeep Kumar MD
Pradeep Kumar
527 W Newton St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 837-8118

Digestive Disease Consultants
Kenneth A Glick
100 Park View Dr
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724) 545-7300

Digestive Disease Consultants
H David Lipsitz
100 Park View Dr
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724) 545-7300

Sannasie Chandrasekaran MD
Sannasie Chandrasekaran
828 W Main St
STE 1
Mount Pleasant, PA 15666
(724) 547-4148

Ronald P Cramer MD
Ronald P Cramer
713 Wood St
Clarion, PA 16214
(814) 227-2343

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Theodore F Berk
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Robert B Levy
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Gregory L Lewis
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Jonathan Verrecchio
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Digestive Care Consultants PC
Balu B Shetty
8775 Norwin Ave
Ste 113 STE 113
Irwin, PA 15642
(724) 864-0503

Tarek Qutob MD
Tarek Qutob
1001 E 2nd St
Coudersport, PA 16915
(814) 274-9024

Rajesh Bajaj MD
Rajesh Bajaj
147 N Washington St
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 337-2684

Medical Gastroenterology Group
Richard Raizman
125 Daugherty Dr
FL 2
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 372-0210

Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC
Ernest L Sutton
125 Daughtery Dr
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 641-2164

Joel Kichler MD
Joel M Kichler
1 Kensington Sq
New Kensington, PA 15068
(724) 337-3531

Geoffrey D Block MD
Geoffrey D Block
831 Pittsburgh St
Springdale, PA 15144
(412) 826-9380

Mahesh Varindani MD
Mahesh Varindani
7555 Saltsburg Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 828-0100

Gastroenterology Associates
M Samir Ayasso
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Gastroenterology Associates
Michael Ennis
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Gastroenterology Associates
Farhad Ismail-Beigi
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Altoona, Pennsylvania

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Balloon Endoscopy

Introduction to endoscopy

The use of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopes has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and colon (large intestine). The last remaining frontier in the intestines has been the small intestine. Wireless capsule endoscopy allows physicians to visualize the inside of the intestines from the esophagus through to the colon, but capsule endoscopy has limitations, the most notable of which are the inability to control the capsule's passage and to perform therapy, for example, biopsy and electrocautery. Although capsule endoscopy is likely to remain an important diagnostic procedure because of its simplicity, the limitations of capsule endoscopy have been overcome by the development of balloon endoscopy, also known as enteroscopy.

What is balloon endoscopy?

There are two types of balloon endoscopy: single balloon and double balloon.

Single balloon endoscopy

For single balloon endoscopy, a 200 cm long flexible, fiberoptic, endoscope (a hose-like tube one centimeter in diameter with a light and a camera on the tip) is fitted with an equally long overtube that slides the full length of the endoscope. On the tip of the overtube is a balloon that can be blown up and deflated. The balloon when blown up is used to anchor the overtube within the intestine. While the overtube is anchored, the endoscopy can be advance further into the small intestine. By withdrawing the overtube the small intestine can be shortened and straightened to make the passage of the inner endoscope easier.? The balloon may then be deflated so that the overtube can be inserted further and the endoscope advanced again.The endoscope itself is a standard endoscope with working channels that allow the intestine to be inflated with air, rinsed with water, or to guide biopsy or electrocau...

Recommended Reading Related to Balloon Endoscopy

Push Endoscopy »

What is endoscopy?

Standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopes (120 cm flexible tubes with a light and camera on their tips) are capable of reaching only a foot or so past the stomach into the small intestine. If abnormalities are located within this area, these endoscopes have working channels through which surgical instruments can be passed so that diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as biopsy and electrocautery can be done.

Many abnormalities of the small bowel, however, lie further along the small intestine beyond the reach of the standard upper gastrointestinal endoscopes. Sometimes a colonoscope, similar to the upper gastrointestinal endoscope but 180 cm in length, can be used to reach a little further into the small intestine, but the additional reach of colonoscopes is limited.

It is not the length of the endoscope that is the most important problem in reaching further into the small intestine. The problem is ...

Emergency Contact for Altoona

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Altoona Hospitals *

Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus
2500 7th Ave
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)889-2011

Altoona Regional Hospital
620 Howard Ave
Altoona, PA 16601
(814)889-2011

James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center
2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)943-8164

HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital
2005 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)944-3535

Nason Hospital
105 Nason Dr
Roaring Spring, PA 16673
(814)224-2141

Tyrone Hospital
One Hospital Dr
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814)684-1255

Miners Medical Center
290 Haida Ave
Hastings, PA 16646
(814)247-3100

J C Blair Memorial Hospital
1225 Warm Springs Ave
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814)643-2290

Windber Medical Center
600 Somerset Ave
Windber, PA 15963
(814)467-3000

Crichton Rehabilitation Center
320 Main St
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814)255-6800

Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus
320 Main St
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814)534-6000

Good Samaritan Medical Center
1020 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-9000

Memorial Medical Center
1086 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-9000

Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown
1086 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-5000

UPMC Bedford Memorial
10455 Lincoln Hwy
Everett, PA 15537
(814)623-6161

Mount Nittany Medical Center
1800 E Park Ave
State College, PA 16803
(814)231-7000

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