What is upper endoscopy?
Upper endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine). Your doctor will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has its own ...
What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine. Crohn’s disease is another form of IBD that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract or gut, extending from the esophagus to the anus.
Who gets ...
What is a colon polyp?
Polyps are benign growths (noncancerous tumors or neoplasms) involving the lining of the bowel. They can occur in several locations in the gastrointestinal tract but are most common in the colon. They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to several inches in diameter. ...
What is a PEG?
Gastroenterologists use percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) to surgically insert a feeding tube (often called a PEG tube) into a patient’s stomach — bypassing the mouth and esophagus — so the patient can get the needed nutrients and fluids. The amount of time a patient needs ...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that is estimated to affect between 25 and 45 million people in the United States, and about 5–10% of the population worldwide. IBS symptoms include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating and changes in stool frequency and/or appearance.
IBS-D ...
What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sometimes simply called reflux, is a condition where acidic stomach contents flow back from the stomach into the food pipe (esophagus). This can happen when the muscular valve between the stomach and the esophagus ...
What is Esophageal Manometry?
Gastroenterologists perform esophageal manometry to determine the strength and function of a patient’s esophagus and esophageal sphincter. It measures pressures and muscle contraction patterns in the patient’s esophagus.
Esophageal manometry is used to evaluate patients ...
What is ERCP?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is a specialized technique used to study the bile ducts, pancreatic duct and sometimes, the gallbladder. Ducts are drainage tubes or channels. The drainage channels from the liver to the intestine are called bile ducts and those from ...
Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives
More than 130,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year and nearly 50,000 of them die from the disease. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. after lung cancer. Despite being preventable, more than 30 percent ...
What is colonoscopy?
Gastroenterologists use colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer. This minimally invasive endoscopic procedure enables doctors to examine the lining of a patient’s rectum and large intestine (colon) for abnormalities.
When they perform a colonoscopy, gastroenterologists pass ...
Dr. Daniel McKee is a board-certified gastroenterologist with over 25 years of experience as a Duluth based specialist providing screening and diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy and the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal, stomach, bowel and liver conditions and diseases.