Services and Specialties

Diseases and disorders of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas and liver are diagnosed and treated by physicians in SLUCare's division of gastroenterology and hepatology. Medical, endoscopic and surgical methods of diagnosis and treatment are used for conditions from ulcers to colon cancer.

HEPATOLOGY
The SLUCare Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology includes an experienced team of professionals dedicated solely to caring for the complex needs of patients with liver disease. Our divisions strength lies in evaluating and managing patients with various types of liver disease ranging from simple to complex. We strive to provide accurate, timely and cost-effective evaluation of patients with liver enzyme abnormalities, known liver disease and those with complications of cirrhosis.

A percutaneous liver biopsy may be conducted for the evaluation of patients with various types of liver disease. We offer extensive experience in outpatient liver biopsy, and a close working relationship with expert hepatic pathologists.

Our expertise in diagnosing and treating liver diseases ranges from the evaluation of trivial enzyme abnormalities due to fatty liver to the management of severe, complicated, end-stage liver disease in patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation. Ongoing clinical research activities allow some patients to be included in protocols evaluating various types of interferon or other agents for treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B or C. Some patients may receive some of the latest forms of therapy free of charge with the support of a pharmaceutical industry-sponsored study. We are among leaders in both clinical and laboratory-based research in liver diseases.

An overview of liver diseases with which we have extensive experience includes:
chronic hepatitis C
chronic hepatitis B
hereditary hemochromatosis
Wilson disease
alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
nonalcholic steatohepatitis
alcoholic liver disease
primary biliary cirrhosis
primary sclerosing cholangitis
cirrhosis
Budd-Chiari syndrome
Amyloidosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma

Click here for more information on liver transplanation.

ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES
Saint Louis University Hospital, working with SLUCare physicians, offers routine endoscopic procedures including:
upper endoscopy
colonoscopy
liver biopsy

Specialized diagnostic and therapeutic procedures include:
esophageal dilatation
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
sphincterectomy and removal of gallstones in the bile duct
biliary stenting
small bowel enteroscopy
endoscopic ultrasound
endoscopic removal of polyps from the colon and stomach
placing of esophageal stents for carcinoma
sclerotherapy or banding for esophageal varices
endoscopic management of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
laser photocoagulation of neoplasms
diagnostic laparoscopy