MedicineNet

Balloon Endoscopy Center - Brownsville, TX

Brownsville 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 Brownsville *

Roberto Ponce MD
Roberto Ponce
2449 Boca Chica Blvd
STE STE D
Brownsville, TX 78521
(956) 542-1531

Oral C James MD
Oral C James
1806 Runnels Ave
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 423-9000

Mid Valley Gastroenterology
S Murthy Badiga
902 S Airport
STE 6
Weslaco, TX 78596
(956) 973-2446

Ralph Alhalel MD
Ralph Alhalel
1200 E Ridge Rd
STE 5
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956) 661-9300

Ralph Alhalel MD
Brick E Alva
1200 E Ridge Rd
STE 5
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956) 661-9300

Fatih Ozcelebi MD
Fatih Ozcelebi
1900 S Jackson Rd
STE E11
Mcallen, TX 78503
(956) 661-1333

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Oscar Alvarez
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Rafael Amaro
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Sabrahmanya Behara
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Carlos J Cardenas
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

South Texas Gastroenterology Associates
Ingrid Chacon
5525 Doctors Dr
Edinburg, TX 78539
(956) 682-4800

K Vijaya Chowdary MD
K Vijaya Chowdary
301 Lindberg Ave
Mcallen, TX 78501
(956) 630-2979

Brownsville, Texas

Upcoming Local Events

2012-05-26
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Brownsville
Throughout Brownsville, Texas
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - McAllen
Throughout McAllen, Texas
2012-06-23
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Brownsville
Throughout Brownsville, Texas
2012-11-11

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 Brownsville

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Brownsville Hospitals *

Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville
1040 W Jefferson St
Brownsville, TX 78520
(956)544-1400

Valley Regional Medical Center
100 A Alton Gloor Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956)350-7000

Brownsville Doctors Hospital
4750 N Expressway
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956)554-2000

Harlingen Medical Center
5501 S Expressway 77
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956)365-1000

Valley Baptist Medical Center
2101 Pease St
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956)389-1100

Knapp Medical Center
1401 E 8th St
Weslaco, TX 78596
(956)968-8567

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.