Gastroenterology Services

This group provides comprehensive, high-quality care in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal system, which includes the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines and liver. Conditions routinely treated include inflammatory bowel disease; peptic ulcer disease; esophageal disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Barrett's esophagus; nutrition-related disease; and liver, biliary and pancreatic diseases. The team is comprised of physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and research staff. Approximately 8,500 procedures are performed and 13,000 outpatient and inpatient visits occur each year.

The gastroenterology physicians strive to provide the highest quality care. Educating fellows, rotating residents and medical students through classroom and clinical exposure, requires physicians to stay up to date with diagnosing conditions and providing treatment.

Special Programs

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
The Alpha-1 Foundation has designated Loyola an Alpha-1 Clinical Resource Center for Loyola's excellence in care for patients with this condition and related liver and lung diseases.

Clinical Nutrition Program
Expert caregivers treat nutrition-related diseases in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Gastrointestinal Oncology Center
Unique in Chicago, the center provides multidisciplinary care for gastrointestinal cancer.

Hepatology Program
The program is a leader in the management of hepatitis C. Physicians treat all aspects of liver disease, including viral hepatitis, cholestatic liver disease, hepatoma and hepatic failure. The division is an integral part of Loyola's liver transplantation program, which was launched in 1997.

Therapeutic Endoscopy
Loyola's gastroenterologists perform high-tech diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy, diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy, and motility testing. They also perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound of the esophagus and stomach. Procedures include fine-needle aspirations of cysts and placing stents in the biliary tract.

Research

The gastroenterology division conducts basic and clinical research, to find out why certain illnesses happen and the best way to treat them. Research interests include: developing markers for detecting early stages of fibrosis in liver disease and reasons for non response to interferon treatment in hepatitis C, pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its chemo prevention with the use of COX2, colon cancer and polyp and isoflavons chemo-preventive effect. Other studies include those regarding GERD, obesity, prevention of h-pylori and gastric emptying.

Contact Us

For an appointment or for more information about Gastroenterology Services, call (888) LUHS-888.