General Gastroenterology
Gut Issues? Our Gastroenterologists Are Here to Listen
Our general gastroenterology team at the Georgia Regents Digestive Health Center specializes in all areas of the digestive tract but focus on one thing: you.
We take the time to listen to our patients so we can fully understand your symptoms, find the right diagnosis, and recommend the right treatment plan for you.
And because we are a comprehensive digestive health center that is affiliated with an academic medical center, all of your care and referrals are coordinated right here under one roof.
Treatments
Your visit to the Georgia Regents Digestive Health Center often begins with seeing a general gastroenterologist who may refer you to other digestive health specialists within our center for treatment.
Our general gastroenterology treatments include:
- Anoscopy. This exam uses a small tube to examine problems of the anal canal.
- Endoscopic band ligation. A physician uses a scope to place tiny bands around the base of abnormally enlarged blood vessels that can develop in the esophagus. The bands cut off circulation so that these vessels wither and fall off.
- Endoscopic stenting. A physician places hollow tubes or stents to open up areas of the digestive tract narrowed by stones, tumors, or other problems in the esophagus, bile ducts, duodenum (first section of the small intestine), or colon.
- Endoscopy/gastroscopy. This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through the mouth to examine the stomach. A physician may also deliver treatments during this procedure, including biopsy, balloon dilation, and control of any GI bleeding.
- Enteroscopy. This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through the mouth to directly examine the small intestine.
- Esophagoscopy. This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through the mouth to examine the esophagus.
- Foreign body removal. This includes the removal of objects such as unchewed food or other swallowed items lodged in the esophagus, stomach and duodenum and colon.
- Laser argon plasma coagulation and tumor ablation. During this endoscopic procedure, a physician delivers thermal energy to control bleeding, ablate tumors, or treat Barrett’s esophagus (Barryx).
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. During this procedure, an endoscope is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach for the placement of a feeding tube.
- Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy. This surgical procedure places a feeding tube into the small intestine.
- Videocapsule endoscopy. This minimally invasive procedure involves swallowing a capsule about the size of a large vitamin. This capsule has a camera that records images of your digestive tract.
- Colonoscopy/flexible sigmoidoscopy. A colonoscopy involves passing an endoscope through your anus to examine the entire colon. Sigmoidoscopy evaluates the rectum, sigmoid and left-sided colon only. It’s recommended that patients undergo colonoscopy every five years starting at age 50 to detect early colon cancer.
- Polypectomy. This procedure involves passing a wire loop around a polyp and removing this precancerous or cancerous growth. This can be done in the stomach, small bowel, or colon. Advanced procedures such as saline-assisted polypectomy are also available.
Meet Our General Gastroenterology Team
Dr. Sherman Chamberlain, general gastroenterology, colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy and director, endoscopy
Dr. Satish Rao, neurogastroenterology, motility and gastroenterology
Dr. Humberto Sifuentes, inflammatory bowel disease and gastroenterology
Dr. Subbaramiah Sridhar, advanced endoscopy, biliary/pancreas & gastroenterology
Kristen Sterling, advanced registered nurse practitioner and nurse manager, general gastroenterology
Michael Hodo, advanced registered nurse practitioner, hepatology and inflammatory bowel disorders, general gastroenterology
Nicole Shaffer, advanced registered nurse practitioner, neurogastroenterology and motility, general gastroenterology
Amanda Lee, advanced registered nurse practitioner, advanced endoscopy, biliary/pancreas, general gastroenterology
Schedule Your Appointment Now
Schedule an online appointment or call 706-446-GUTS (4887) to speak to a member of our digestive health team.