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Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Program

 Through the Gastroenterology Endoscopy Program, the Section provides state-of-the-art procedural services including:
   •   Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
   •   Colonoscopy
   •   Esophageal pH probe monitoring
   •   Percutaneous liver biopsy
   •   Rectal suction biopsy
   •   Capsule endoscopy

Other services include breath testing for children with suspected lactose intolerance and H. Pylori infections. Our specialists are skilled at therapeutic endoscopic procedures including foreign body removal, polypectomy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement and esophageal dilatation for esophageal strictures. Our new high-definition endoscopes allow us to see the intestinal mucosa in greater detail. We also offer capsule endoscopy as a less invasive technique to visualize the small intestine.

Capsule endoscopy is a revolutionary non-invasive procedure used to visualize the inside of the small intestine, enabling a comprehensive gastrointestinal evaluation.  The procedure involves swallowing a capsule equipped with a miniature camera. The test does not require anesthesia if the patient is able to swallow the pill, which is roughly the size of a large jelly bean. If this is not possible, it can be placed via an endoscopy. The ingestible capsule can transmit approximately 50,000 images over the course of a few hours. A data recording device worn by patients captures the images, which can be downloaded and viewed as a video by the physician. Capsule endoscopy can be helpful in diagnosing patients with bleeding in the small bowel that can’t be diagnosed by colonoscopy or endoscopy, as well as those with polyp syndromes or celiac disease. It is also valuable in evaluating and monitoring patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

 

For more information on GI diseases and procedures, please click here or visit www.gastrokids.org.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (215) 427-6778.

Locations

St. Chris Specialty Pediatrics at Abington
St. Chris Specialty Pediatrics at Bucks County
St. Chris Specialty Pediatrics at The Reading Hospital
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

Meet the Team

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has a highly qualified team of board-certified experts who are specially trained to work with the individual and unique needs of infants and pediatric patients.

The team is led by Harpreet Pall, MD, Chief, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Director, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Program.

Physicians

Stephanie Appleman, MD, MS
David Blanco, MD
Kathy Chen, MD, FAAP
Kevin Kelly, MD
Harpreet Pall, MD
Philip Stein, MD

See Also ...

Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Nutrition Services