Gastroenterology laboratories are located at the Highland  and Banning facilities. Gastroenterologists regularly perform these procedures on-site:

Upper Endoscopy (EGD) – A flexible fiber optic scope is inserted through the mouth to look at a patient’s stomach and esophagus for abnormalities. Patients are sedated for endoscopy and a agent is used to numb the patient’s throat. This procedure is used for swallowing problems, stomach pain, ulcers and removing foreign objects.

Colonoscopy –A flexible fiber optic scope is inserted in the colon that the physician uses to view the entire large intestine and where the large and small intestine meet. Patients follow a special diet for a few days before the procedure to cleanse the colon and are sedated during the colonoscopy.

This procedure checks for colon cancer, diverticulosis (pockets in the colon), and polyps (growths that can be pre-cancerous or cancerous). When polyps are found, they are removed during the colonoscopy and they are sent to a lab to check for cancer. Results are received within 10-14 days.

Sigmoidoscopy –Most polyps and cancer occurs in the sigmoid portion of the colon, which includes about 20-30 inches of large intestine. Compared to a colonoscopy, this procedure requires less preparation time, a less vigorous diet, and patients can return to daily activities with no restrictions.

Sigmoidoscopies are most often used as a screening tool to check for colon cancer and polyps for people with no family history of colon cancer. It can also be used to check for diverticulosis (pockets in the colon), and anal fissures (tears in the rectum).

A flexible fiber optic scope is inserted into the colon that the physician uses to view the sigmoid portion of large intestine. When polyps are found, they are removed during the colonoscopy and they are sent to a lab to check for cancer. Results are received within 10-14 days.

Sigmoidoscopies are also performed for colon cancer screening at a sigmoidoscopy clinic in Redlands. If polyps are found, the patient is often referred to Gastroenterology for a colonoscopy.

Learn more about colon cancer screenings and other preventive care screenings.