Digestive Health Program
Digestive discomforts like heartburn, stomach upset, acid reflux and painful gas could be symptoms of serious medical problems. If you have questions about your digestive health, but aren’t quite sure where to begin, start with a digestive health assessment and learn more about conditions you may have.
Your Digestive Health
Introduction – The Digestive System
Common Digestive Ailments
Diagnostic Procedures
EndoFLIP Impedance Planimetry System
EndoFLIP® is an advanced balloon dilation technology used during endoscopy. EndoFLIP is an advanced technology used to measure the pressure and size of gastrointestinal organs. It can reveal how solid and strong the walls of the organ are.
Using the EndoFLIP impedance planimetry system, gastroenterologists are able to help further the diagnosis of those with dysphagia, or persistent difficulty swallowing. A range of conditions can cause dysphagia, including esophageal motility disorders, which happen when esophageal muscles aren’t working correctly. This affects how food and liquids move from the mouth to the stomach. It often mimics the symptoms of GERD, including frequent heartburn, sore throat, and regurgitation. For those who suffer from dysphagia, an upper endoscopy (EGD) alone often is not enough to gain a diagnosis.
Our digestive health physicians work together to help patients diminish episodes of discomfort, including:
- Chronic cough
- Chronic heartburn
- Difficulty swallowing
- Noncardiac chest pain
- Postsurgical esophageal symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment may include a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, endoscopic therapies, and, when appropriate, surgical procedures.
Physicians and Patients Choose Memorial Digestive Health For Quality Care
Memorial Digestive Health offers solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive disease and disorders. The providers on our Medical Staff are trained in gastroenterology, cancers of the digestive system, colon and rectal disease, and weight management.
A Digestive Health Navigator is available to work with patients from physician referral through diagnosis, treatment and surgery. We strive to send the patient back to their referring physician for ongoing care. Because of the well-rounded diagnosis and treatment options, care is coordinated with the patient and his or her primary physician.
Memorial Digestive Health consists of highly qualified physicians, technicians and surgeons who are trained in many techniques to diagnose and treat chronic digestive disorders. The care team is equipped with advanced technology if surgery is necessary.
Problems We Treat
- Abdominal Wall Hernia
- Barrett’s Esophagus
- Bile Duct Disease
- Cancers of the Digestive System
- Chronic Constipation
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Colon Polyps
- Diverticular Disease
- Fecal Incontinence
- Gallbladder Disease/Gallstones
- GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease/Heartburn/Acid Reflux
- Gastrointestinal Infections
- Hemorrhoids
- IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Indigestion
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis - Liver Disease
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Stomach Disorders
- Swallowing Disorders
- Viral Hepatitis – Hepatitis B and C
Diagnostic Procedures
- Colonoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Endoscopy
- EndoFLIP
- Spyglass Endoscopy
- LINX-Acid Reflux Surgery
- Spyglass/ERCP
- Manometry
- BRAVO
- Wireless Capsule Endoscopy
Treatment Options
- Bariatric Surgery – Including lap-band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon procedures
- Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Hemorrhoid Energy Treatment (HET) - Non-surgical treatment for grades I and II internal hemorrhoids
- Ligation treatment for hemorrhoids (banding)
- Gastric Fundoplication - Laparoscopic treatment for GERD and hiatal hernia
- Other surgical treatments of cancer, hernia, hemorrhoids, polyps and other digestive diseases and disorders
The Digestive Health Team
Gastroenterologists
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS
Ayyappa Mysore Rangaraju, MD
Thomas Nattakom, MD
Jean-Pierre Reinhold, MD
Kairasp Noshirwani, MD
Pratyusha Tirumanisetty, MD
Murali Nalluri, MD
Board-Certified Surgeons
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 800.424.DOCS
Carrie Dieker, MD - Upper Abdominal General Surgery
Frank Felts, MD - Bariatric and Heartburn Surgery
Fermin Fontan, MD - Bariatric and Heartburn Surgery
Diego Ramos, MD - General Surgery