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Symptoms, Conditions & Procedures

Struggling with gastrointestinal issues is never a comfortable situation, but help is available. If something is interfering with the proper functioning of your GI tract, the digestive health specialists at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates have the knowledge and expertise to assist you. Our providers use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose, manage, and treat various types of conditions like GERD, acid reflux, hemorrhoids, dysphagia, Crohn’s disease, and much more. Our expert GI specialists also perform numerous procedures such as colonoscopies, liver biopsies, colon cancer screenings, and sphincterotomies. If you are struggling with concerning or uncomfortable GI symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or blood in your stool, do not delay to contact our team of skilled gastroenterologists in New Orleans, LA so they can assist you in getting back to an elevated level of GI health.

GI Symptoms

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain is a generalized discomfort or pain that can be a symptom of a variety of conditions and is localized between the chest and pelvis.

Anal/Rectal Bleeding

Anal or rectal bleeding refers to blood from your lower colon or rectum emerging from the anus due to conditions such as hemorrhoids or anal ulcers.

Bloating

Bloating can be a symptom of various conditions and is the result of an accumulation of gas in the digestive tract or fluid retention in the abdomen.

Blood in the Stool

Blood in the stool, which ranges in color, indicates that somewhere along the digestive tract, there is a bleed occurring that needs to be analyzed.

Bowel Incontinence

Bowel incontinence is characterized by the inability to control bowel movements and ranges in severity from stool leakage to complete loss of control.

Constipation

Constipation is a common symptom occurring when stool is hard to pass or becomes too dry; however, if persistent, it can signal a more serious issue.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea presents as loose, watery stools occurring multiple times daily and is a symptom of many conditions, such as lactose intolerance and viruses.

Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing occurs when the esophagus struggles to move foods and liquids from the mouth to the stomach and can be a sign of many ailments.

Heartburn

Heartburn presents as a burning feeling in the chest combined with an acidic taste that usually manifests after bending over, lying down, or eating.

Indigestion

Indigestion is a symptom that often occurs after eating which manifests as a discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen along with a feeling of fullness.

Nausea

Nausea, a common symptom of many conditions or illnesses, is an uneasy sensation felt in the stomach which will give an individual the urge to vomit.

Unexplained Weight Gain/Loss

An unexpected weight gain or loss can signal an underlying issue when there is a noticeable change in weight and no effort has been made to cause it.

Vomiting

Vomiting refers to the body’s response of expelling the contents of the stomach when exposed to potential threats like bacteria, viruses, or poison.

Yellowing of the Skin/Eyes

Yellowing of the skin and eyes can be a symptom of many underlying conditions and usually occurs when there is an abundance of bilirubin in the blood.

GI Conditions

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter is not working properly and allows acid from the stomach to move back up into the esophagus.

Anal Fissure

Anal fissures are very tiny tears in the tissue lining the anus that can result in pain, discomfort, bloody stools, and anal sphincter muscle spasms.

Anemia/Iron Deficiency

Anemia, often caused by iron deficiency, occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen being sent through the body due to a lack of healthy red blood cells.

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus, a GERD complication, occurs when the tissue lining the esophagus starts to mirror the tissue of the GI tract.

Biliary Obstruction

Biliary obstructions can happen when one or more bile ducts become blocked and bile is not able to move as needed throughout your biliary system.

C. Difficile Colitis

C. difficile colitis results from a bacterium, clostridioides difficile, infecting the body and causing inflammation within the large intestines.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a genetically inherited condition that causes the digestive system to react negatively when items containing gluten are consumed.

Colitis

Colitis refers to the generalized inflammation of the lining of the large intestine which can be caused by conditions such as IBD and Crohn’s disease.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer occurs when harmless polyps develop into malignant masses. A colonoscopy is key in treating polyps and preventing colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Polyps

Colorectal polyps are benign masses of cells found on the lining of the colon or rectum. In time, these cells can become cancerous if left untreated.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease can affect any portion of the digestive tract but generally targets the small bowel and colon and manifests as painful inflammation.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

Cyclic vomiting syndrome presents as sudden episodes of severe nausea and vomiting that are repeated multiple times in a day with no known cause.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs as a complication of the condition diverticulosis, where the diverticula pouches have now become infected and begun to swell.

Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is a precursor to diverticulitis. This mild condition forms small pockets (called diverticula) that push through the intestinal lining.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia occurs when muscle spasms or other internal issues cause someone to have difficulty swallowing or be unable to ingest foods and liquids.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a condition that occurs due to the accumulation of eosinophil cells in the esophageal lining, causing inflammation.

Esophageal Motility Disorder

Esophageal motility disorder describes the failure of the muscles in the esophagus to properly contract and transport consumed items to the stomach.

Esophagitis

Esophagitis refers to the generalized inflammation of the esophagus, which can be caused by allergies, infection, acid, or preexisting conditions.

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat on the liver cells which, if left untreated, can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Fistula

A fistula is a tunnel or pathway between two hollow organs within the body. Fistulae can be medically induced or formed due to an injury or disease.

Food Intolerance

A food intolerance is a condition where certain foods cannot be broken down and processed properly by the digestive system, resulting in GI symptoms.

Gallbladder Disease

Gallbladder disease is a term describing any condition negatively affecting the gallbladder such as gallstones, cholecystitis, or biliary dyskinesia.

Gastritis

Gastritis refers to the general inflammation of the lining that protects the stomach. Gastritis can increase one's risk for stomach ulcers and cancer.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease describes the recurrence of acid reflux on a more regular basis. Heartburn is one of the common symptoms of GERD.

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria found specifically in the stomach. An H. pylori infection can create ulcers that will damage the stomach’s lining.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are veins that become inflamed and protrude either internally in the rectum or externally on the anus, causing discomfort and bleeding.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is the inflammation or swelling of the liver. There are different variations of hepatitis, with hepatitis A, B, and C being the most common.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes up through the hiatus and into the chest cavity, causing issues like heartburn and acid reflux.

Ileitis

Iletis is a condition often caused by Crohn’s disease that presents as irritation or inflammation at the end of the small bowel, known as the ileum.

Impacted Bowel

An impacted bowel often causes pain and bloating and occurs when gas or fecal matter is unable to be passed through the GI tract due to a blockage.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease describes swelling in your digestive tract. The two different types of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome causes persistent GI symptoms in the GI tract. IBS is a chronic condition that can often be managed with lifestyle changes.

Jaundice

Jaundice is characterized by a yellowish hue on the surface of the skin and in the whites of the eyes, and is caused by an excess of bilirubin.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a common condition where the body cannot tolerate lactose due to a lack of an enzyme, lactase, being produced in the body.

Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis, also known as hepatic cirrhosis, occurs when the liver is inflamed and scarred. As more scarring occurs, liver function decreases.

Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more serious type of NAFLD that presents as fat accumulating on the liver combined with liver inflammation.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is inflamed and cannot function properly. It has many causes such as smoking, gallstones, infection, and trauma.

Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcer disease is a condition where ulcers or open sores form in the stomach or upper small intestine, causing discomfort, pain, and bleeding.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare, chronic, autoimmune disease that will progressively damage the bile ducts leading to severe liver issues.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic condition presenting as inflammation, narrowing, and damage of the internal and external bile ducts.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an IBD that causes ulcers and uncomfortable swelling in the inner lining of the colon. Symptoms can be managed with treatment.

GI Procedures

Anorectal Manometry

Anorectal manometry is a test usually performed on those with bowel issues to assess the strength and the reflexes of the muscles used to pass stool.

Bravo™ pH Monitoring

Bravo® pH Monitor is an exam used to determine the presence of heartburn or GERD by measuring the pH levels of the esophagus using a small pH capsule.

Capsule Endoscopy

A capsule endoscopy can determine the cause of GI symptoms by swallowing a pill containing a camera to produce varied imaging of the small intestine.

Chronic Care Management

Chronic care management provides coordinated care between providers and helps manage the conditions for patients with two or more chronic diseases.

Colon Cancer Screening

Colon cancer screenings can detect and prevent colon cancer and should be done regularly starting at the age of 45 or for those at a heightened risk.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is an exam used to investigate the lining of the colon to diagnose various symptoms and ailments as well as screen for cancer and growths.

EGD

Upper endoscopy (EGD) is a diagnostic exam performed to determine the source of GI symptoms or to monitor changes associated with esophageal cancer.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection is a minimally invasive approach to removing growths or tumors located below the GI lining without the need for surgery.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) uses a scope to examine the lining of the GI tract, identify possible abnormalities, and is often used to stage cancer.

Enteroscopy

In an enteroscopy, a scope will enter the mouth and be advanced to the jejunum to identify the source of symptoms such as bleeding and abdominal pain.

ERCP

A ERCP is used to view the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, bile ducts, and pancreatic ducts by advancing a scope from the mouth to the duodenum.

Esophageal Dilation

Esophageal Dilation is a treatment to stretch a part of the esophagus that has become constricted to relieve GI concerns that accompany the stricture.

Esophageal Manometry

Esophageal manometry (motility study) is a test to measure the contractile abilities of the muscles in the esophagus to diagnose swallowing issues.

Feeding Tube Insertion (PEG)

Feeding tube insertion (PEG) is a treatment used to supply nutrients, liquids, and medications directly into the stomach for those unable to swallow.

FibroScan®

FibroScan is an advanced ultrasound technology that is able to noninvasively inspect the liver and assess the fibrosis and steatosis found within it.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

A flexible sigmoidoscopy uses a scope that is advanced from the rectum to the lower third of the large intestine to closely assess the colon's lining.

HALO® Ablation

HALO Ablation is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure performed to treat Barrett’s esophagus by using heat to target damaged esophageal tissue.

Hemorrhoid Banding

Hemorrhoid banding is a procedure to shrink and ultimately remove hemorrhoids by placing a rubber band at the base to stop the blood flow to the area.

Infusion Therapy (IV Infusion)

Infusion therapy (IV therapy) refers to the method of administering medication or fluids directly into the veins of an individual instead of orally.

Percutaneous Liver Biopsy

A percutaneous liver biopsy is used to collect a tissue sample from the liver to diagnose, stage, or determine treatment needs for liver conditions.

Restech Dx-pH Test

The Restech Dx-pH Test is used to measure the amount of acid reflux reaching a patient’s airway and can assist in diagnosing atypical reflux symptoms.

Sphincterotomy

A sphincterotomy is a surgical procedure used to treat anal fissures by making a minor incision to reduce the pressure in the internal anal sphincter.