Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Upper
endoscopy is a procedure that enables the examiner (usually a
gastroenterologist) to examine the esophagus (swallowing tube),
stomach, and duodenum (first portion of small bowel) using a thin, flexible tube
through which the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum can be viewed
using a TV monitor.
To accomplish a safe and complete examination, the stomach should be
empty. The patient will most likely be asked to have nothing to eat or drink
for six hours or more prior to the procedure.
Prior to scheduling
the procedure, the patient should inform his or her physician of any medications
they are currently taking,
any allergies, and all of their health problems. This information will
remind the doctor whether the patient may need antibiotics prior to the
procedure, what potential medications should not be used during the exam
because of the patient's allergies, and will provide the individual scheduling
the procedure an
opportunity to instruct the patient whether any of the medications they are
taking should be
held or adjusted prior to the endoscopy.
Knowledge whether the patient has
any major health problems, such as heart or lung diseases, will alert
the examiner of possible need for special attention during the
procedure.
Why have you been scheduled for an
endoscopy?
Upper endoscopy usually is performed to evaluate possible problems with the
esophagus, stomach or duodenum, and evaluate symptoms such as upper
abdominal pain, nausea or
vomiting,
difficulty in swallowing, intestinal
bleeding anemia,
etc.. Upper endoscopy is more accurate than X-ray for detecting inflammation or
smaller abnormalities such as ulcers or tumors within the reach of the
instrument. Its other major advantage over X-ray is the ability to
perform biopsies (obtain small pieces of tissue) or cytology
(obtain some cells with a fine brush) for microscopic examination to
determine the nature of the abnormality and whether the abnormality is benign or malignant
(cancerous).
Biopsies are taken for many reasons and may not
mean that cancer is suspected. Upper endoscopy also can be used to treat
many conditions within its reach. The endoscope's channels permit
passage of accessory instruments enabling the examiner to treat many
of the conditions such as stretching areas of narrowing (strictures), removal of benign growths such as polyps, accidentally
swallowed objects, or treating upper gastrointestinal bleeding as seen
in ulcers tears of the lining. These capabilities have markedly
reduced the need for transfusions or surgery.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying
Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes
A hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. Causes of hiatal hernia
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease,
primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can
affect other parts of the digestive
Thrush is an infection of the mouth caused by the candida fungus. Symptoms of Thrush include pain or difficulty swallowing, a feeling that food gets stuck
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation (gastritis) of the inner lining of the stomach in humans. This bacteria
Though the cause of stomach cancer is unknown, risk factors for stomach cancer include diet, H. pylori infection, smoking age, gastritis, stomach surgery,
Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis has many causes including acid reflux, heartburn, viruses, medications
Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus
Celiac disease is a result of an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat or related grains and present in many foods that we eat. Celiac disease
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin,
Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use,
The term oral cancer includes cancer of the mouth (oral cavity) and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). Red and white patches inside the mouth, bleeding,
A peptic ulcer is an ulcer in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. Ulcer formation is related to Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach,
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common gastrointestinal disorder involving abnormal gut contractions (motility) characterized by abdominal pain,
bloating,
Anal cancer, cancer located at the end of the large intestine, has symptoms that include anal or rectal bleeding, anal pain or pressure, anal discharge
Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function
Achalasia is a disease of the esophagus that mainly affects young adults. Abnormal function of nerves and muscles of the esophagus causes difficulty swallowing
Gastroparesis is a medical condition in which the muscle of the stomach is paralyzed by a disease of either the stomach muscle itself or the nerves controlling
Salivary gland cancer is cancer that affects the parotid glands, sublingual glands, or the submandibular glands. Risk factors include older age, radiation
Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a
A carcinoid tumor is a tumor that develops from enterochromaffin cells. The important characteristic of carcinoid tumors that sets them apart from other
Schistosomiasis (snail fever), a disease caused by parasites, causes a variety of symptoms and signs, such as cough, rash and bloody diarrhea. Praziquantel
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part
"Just a spoonful of sugar... " goes the song. But what happens to that sugar once you swallow it? In fact, how is it that you are able to swallow it at all? Your digestive system performs amazing feats every day,"...
