At Mountainside Medical Group, gastroenterologists use some of the latest techniques and technologies to help patients overcome gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

Procedures to Address Every Condition

When your digestive system is out of sorts, it can throw your whole life off balance.  In the endoscopy suite at Mountainside Medical Center, gastroenterologists help patients get their lives back on track. They use advanced procedures to diagnose and treat digestive conditions, including Crohn’s disease, Barrett’s esophagus, bile duct and pancreatic disease, gallbladder disease and colorectal cancer. To detect colorectal cancer, gastroenterologists often use colonoscopy, an incision-free procedure that allows them to find and remove polyps – small growths on the lining of the colon and the rectum that can become cancerous.

“For difficult-to-remove polyps, we can perform a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection at the same time as a colonoscopy,” said R. Swami Nathan, M.D., FACG, gastroenterologist with Mountainside Medical Group. “We use chemicals to lift the polyps away from the wall of the rectum, which allows us to remove polyps as big as two or three inches wide. Previously, patients had to undergo surgery for polyps that could not be removed during colonoscopy.”

Other advanced procedures available at Mountainside Medical Center include:

- Ablation for Barrett’s esophagus
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Small bowel capsule endoscopy
- Upper endoscopy

Care that Goes Beyond Procedures

Oleg Shulik, M.D., an advanced diagnostic and innovative therapeutic endoscopy gastroenterologist with Mountainside Medical Group performs specialized endoscopic procedures to treat complex pain, disorders of the bowel duct and pancreas. He is quick to point out, however, that the care he and his colleagues provide extends far beyond advanced procedures.

“We treat patients as a whole, and part of that is acknowledging that a procedure may not be the only answer for every person,” Dr. Shulik said. “Achieving the best results for patients involves an individualized treatment plan and we may choose different therapy options to ensure an excellent outcome.”

Prevention Times Three

Learn what you can do to reduce your risk for three common gastrointestinal conditions.

Diverticulitis: To prevent this condition, which is inflammation of small sacs on the colon wall, eat foods with plenty of fiber, especially fruits and vegetables.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): This occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus causing heartburn.  To prevent GERD, avoid fatty, acidic and fried foods, alcohol and caffeine.  Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big ones.

Stomach Ulcer: You may be able to prevent some stomach ulcers by not taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen.

To help you find a solution to your GI symptoms, visit www.MountainsideMedicalGroup.com/gastroenterology or call 866-999-5162 to schedule an appointment with one of our gastroenterologists.