Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Center - Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita Gastroenterologist Doctors for Flexible SigmoidoscopyType 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 Santa Clarita * Facey Medical Group Valencia II  Valencia Gastroenterology Inc  Valencia Gastroenterology Inc  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Digestive Health Consultants  Santa Clarita Gastroenterology  Santa Clarita Gastroenterology  Maria S Umali MD  Facey Medical Foundation Mission Hills  HeathCare Partners Medical Group  Mysore R Nagaraja MD  Richard D Garrett MD  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Drs Fagen Hepps & Madievsky  Gustavo A Machicado MD  Richard K Gordon MD  Piyush Jogani MD  Gustavo A Machicado MD  Mark F Tsai MD  R Chitayat MD & Calin Arimie MD  R Chitayat MD & Calin Arimie MD  Valley Gastro Group  Valley Gastro Group  Valley Gastro Group  Valley Gastro Group  Paul O Gulsrud MD  Moe Amadpour MD  Gnana Desigan MD  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Nagaraj M Chetty MD  Drs Buch & Shiffman  Serra Community Medical Clinic  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Gourdji & Jacobs MDs  Gourdji & Jacobs MDs  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Amerian Getzug Klasky & Kam  Marcos B Fleiderman MD  Carl I Blau MD  Federal Medical Clinic  Efrat Z Lobel MD APC Female Gastroenterologist  Star Weight Control  Medical Group Of Encino  Lakeside Medical Associates  Lakeside Medical Associates  Esmail Hessami MD  Rapid Care Urgent Care  Lakeside Medical Associates  Michael Albertson MD  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  UCLA Digestive Disease Center  Marvin Derezin MD  Marvin Derezin MD  UCLA Medical Group Gastroenterology  Capsule Endoscopy Services UCLA  Kirsten Tillisch MD  Doctor House Call  Nicholas Karyotakis MD  Daniel Lahana MD  Soraya A Ross MD  Hector Cabellero MD  Cedar Sinai Medical Center  Harry A Cynamon MD  Mark Davidson MD  Joel D Feinstein MD  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Siamak Tabib MD  Donald R Henderson MD  Payman?Khorrami MD  Herbert R Kornfeld MD  Joseph Loewy MD  Drs Cynamon & Feldman  Rahbar Medical Group  Century City Endoscopy  Siamak Tabib MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Jeffrey H Sherman MD  Mitchell J Spirt MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Siamak Tabib MD  Sadler Medical Group  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Gastroenterology  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Shahab Mehdizadeh MD  Cedars-Sinai Esophageal Center  John D Romm MD & Howard Pitchon MD Santa Clarita, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-06-23
2012-06-30
2012-07-04
2012-08-25
2012-09-02
2012-09-22
2012-09-30
Flexible SigmoidoscopyRead the Flexible Sigmoidoscopy article » What is flexible sigmoidoscopy?Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer. For more, please read the Colon Screening and Surveillance article. What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?In order to obtain accurate results, the rectum and the lower colon must be completely clean of stool. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to cleanse your colon. In general, this requires the use of one or two enemas prior to the procedure and may also call for a laxative and some dietary modifications. Under special circumstances, such as the presence of significant diarrhea, the preparation may be waived. Do I continue my medications for flexible sigmoidoscopy?In general, you can continue to take your regular medicines. You should, however, inform your doctor of all the prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking as well as any allergies you may have. Certain drugs increase the risk of bleeding if biopsies are performed; these include aspirin, blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), and NSAIDs such as Motrin and Advil. Your doctor may ask you to stop these medications for several days before the procedure. You should also alert your doctor if you have an artificial heart valve, hip or knee prosthesis, or have a disease of the heart valves such as mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, or mitral regurgitation. Patients with these conditions may need a... Recommended Reading Related to Flexible SigmoidoscopyWhat is a colon polyp?Colon polyps are fleshy growths that occur on the inside (the lining) of the large intestine, also known as the colon. Polyps in the colon are extremely common, and their incidence increases as individuals get older. It is estimated that 50% of the people over the age of 60 will harbor at least one polyp. The significance of polyps is that we know that when certain types of polyps grow large enough, they can become cancerous, and, moreover, colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United Sates. Therefore, screening for colon polyps and removing them before they become cancerous should markedly reduce the incidence of colon cancer. What types of polyps become cancerous? Other Related Flexible Sigmoidoscopy ArticlesEmergency Contact for Santa Clarita
Nearby Santa Clarita Hospitals *Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Olive View UCLA Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Northridge Hospital Medical Center Simi Valley Hospital Mission Community Hospital Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center West Hills Hospital & Medical Center Valley Presbyterian Hospital Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center Tarzana Regional Medical Center Hollywood Community Hospital of Van Nuys Encino Hospital Medical Center Motion Picture & Television Hospital Sherman Oaks Hospital Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center Verdugo Hills Hospital Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Hollywood Community Hospital Glendale Adventist Medical Center Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Saint John's Health Center Miracle Mile Medical Center Olympia Medical Center Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center VA Greater Los Angeles HealthCare System Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center Temple Community Hospital Brotman Medical Center Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles St John's Pleasant Valley Hospital St Vincent Medical Center Barlow Respiratory Hospital Antelope Valley Hospital Lancaster Community Hospital Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center Good Samaritan Hospital Huntington Hospital Kaiser Mental Health Center Pacific Alliance Medical Center Marina Del Rey Hospital California Hospital Medical Center Kindred Hospital Los Angeles Orthopaedic Medical Center USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center USC University Hospital LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital White Memorial Medical Center Alhambra Hospital Medical Center Aurora Las Encinas Hospital Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center Centinela Campus East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Garfield Medical Center Los Angeles Community Hospital Monterey Park Hospital City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus Community Hospital of Huntington Park Methodist Hospital Featured Articles*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. |
Suggested Reading on Flexible Sigmoidoscopy by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
21 articles-
Abdominal Pain
- 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 organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
-
Rectal Bleeding (Blood in Stool, Hematochezia)
- 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 from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
-
Hemorrhoids
- Hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein in the walls of the anus and sometimes around the rectum, usually caused by untreated constipation, but occasionally associated with chronic diarrhea. If untreated, hemorrhoids can worsen, protruding from the anus. Also known as piles.
-
Diverticulitis (Diverticulosis)
- Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon. Diverticulitis symptoms include: abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Treatment methods include prescription medications, and in some cases, diverticulitis surgery.
-
Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
-
Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
-
Anal Itching
- Anal itching is the irritation of the skin at the exit of the rectum, known as the anus, accompanied by the desire to scratch. Causes include everything from irritating foods we eat, to certain disease and infections. Treatment options include local anesthetics, vasoconstrictors, protectants, astringents, antiseptics, keratolytics, analgesics, and corticosteroids. If condition persists, a doctor examination may be needed to identify an underlying cause.
-
Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
-
Anal Fissure
- An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the skin lining of the anus. Pain and/or rectal bleeding during bowel movements are common symptoms of anal fissures. Treatment involves increasing liquid intake, using stool softeners and avoiding foods that may not be well-digested.
-
Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)
- Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. Treatment for C. difficile colitis hydration, replenishment of electrolyte deficiencies, discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium.
-
Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common gastrointestinal disorder involving abnormal gut contractions (motility) characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, mucous in stools, and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhea and constipation, symptoms that tend to be chronic and to wax and wane over the years. Treatment options include medication and lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and stress management to control symptoms. Also called spastic colitis, mucus colitis, nervous colon syndrome.
-
Anal Cancer
- 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 or itching, a change in bowel movements, and/or a lump in the anal region. Treatment for anal cancer may involve radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery and depends upon the stage of the cancer, its location, whether cancer is eradicated after the first treatment, and whether the patient has HIV.
-
Colon Polyps
- A colon polyp is a benign tumor of the large intestine. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can easily be removed during colonoscopy and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant over time.
-
Microscopic Colitis (Lymphocytic Colitis and Collagenous Colitis)
- Microscopic colitis (lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis) is a disease of inflammation of the colon. Microscopic colitis is only visible when the colon's lining is examined under a microscope. The cause of microscopic colitis is not known. Symptoms of microscopic colitis are chronic watery diarrhea and abdominal pain or cramps. Microscopic colitis is diagnosed through biopsies of several areas of the colon. There is no standardized treatment for microscopic colitis; however, eliminating NSAIDs, and treatment medications such as Imodium, Lomotil, Petpo-Bismol, Entocort EC, and mesalamine (Asacol) have been helpful in some individuals.
-
Hirschsprung's Disease
- Hirschsprung's disease (Hirschsprung), is a disease of the nerve cells of of the large intestine. The primary symptom of Hirschsprung's disease is constipation. Hirschsprung's disease is diagnosed through barium enema, and treatment is surgery.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Melanosis Coli
- Melanosis coli is a condition that is often associated with prolonged laxative use.
-
Colon Cancer Prevention
- Colo-rectal cancer is both curable and preventable if it is detected early and completely removed before the cancerous cells metastasize to other parts of the body. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy (along with digital rectal examination and stool occult blood testing) are both effective at preventing colo-rectal cancers and detecting early colo-rectal cancers.
-
Disease Prevention in Women
- Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
-
Disease Prevention in Men
- Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
-
Abdominal Pain
-
Medications
1 articles -
Procedures & Tests
5 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
2 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
3 articles -
Health News
5 articles -
Health Features
2 articles
