Conditions & Services

Colonoscopy allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon) to help find ulcers, tumors and areas of inflammation or bleeding. Also, and most importantly, colonoscopy enables physicians to identify and remove small growths called polyps, that if not removed, can lead to colon cancer – a common and potentially deadly – type of the disease.

To learn more about colonoscopies and getting screened, click here.

All of our gastroenterologists evaluate and manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We perform all of the major diagnostic tests for GERD symptoms, including upper endoscopy (EGD), ambulatory pH testing (BRAVO), pH with impedance testing and esophageal manometry. Our physicians commonly use medications to treat GERD, and offer endoscopic treatments like Stretta and surgery options like Nissen fundoplication.

At St. Luke’s, all of our gastroenterologists are experienced in managing hepatitis C. In addition, our specialized nurses work closely with our patients throughout their treatment.

IBD, a term for two conditions—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis—is a complex autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues. IBD inflammation results in damage to the GI tract and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with symptoms including frequent diarrhea, urgency, bleeding and abdominal pain.

Because IBD has no cure, our compassionate physicians are by your side, guiding you in managing your condition throughout your lifetime. We help you attain a higher quality of life by minimizing painful and embarrassing symptoms, such as frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain, bleeding and urgency.

St. Luke’s gastroenterologists have extensive experience in evaluating and managing of IBS. We often use a combination of dietary and lifestyle modification and medications to treat IBS.

St. Luke’s core group of GI cancer experts work together on a case-by-case basis to develop the most effective and appropriate treatment plan. Patients receive care from fellowship-trained surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists who identify the optimal treatment strategy.

St. Luke’s uses a combination of proven approaches, including:

• Minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures
• Innovative surgical techniques
• Progressive therapies that target specific genes in GI cancers
• Powerful and safe radiation therapy options
• Access to the leading clinical trials and promising investigational therapies.

Bowel incontinence prevents individuals from participating in preferred activities, causes social isolation and even leads to loss of employment. It is believed to be the leading cause of nursing home admission, especially for women. St. Luke’s Digestive Disease and Liver Center offers many treatments that help people regain control.

Treatment options range from diet modification and exercise to advanced surgical techniques, such as sacral nerve stimulation. At St. Luke’s, specialists review the patient’s medical history, conduct a thorough physical examination and order tests that evaluate the bowel, rectum and supporting muscles. Based on the results, they design a treatment plan to meet the patient’s specific needs.

SNS is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the insertion in the lower back of a neurostimulator that sends mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves to control bowel, rectum and bladder function. A St. Luke’s surgeon was the first in the region to perform the InterStim® Therapy procedure for bowel control at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem.

The outpatient procedure can be performed in less than an hour under mild sedation.

FMT C-Diff treatment is an alternative, highly effective and relatively inexpensive procedure that replaces killed or suppressed bacteria in the gut. The procedure, which has a 90% cure rate, offers hope to individuals who suffer with severe cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a condition that causes recurrent and debilitating diarrhea. Weight loss resulting from diarrhea can cause weakness and even death, in extreme cases, especially for the elderly who take antibiotics.

During FMT, the patient receives stool containing beneficial intestinal microbiota from a carefully screened donor. After the stool is placed in the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, the transplanted fecal matter delivers microbiota necessary for the gut to function properly. Patients prepare for FMT as they would for any colonoscopy. Before the procedure, they are sedated and afterward, bed rest is encouraged for the remainder of the day. The majority of patients get results in three to five days.

The liver is one of the only organs in our body that can heal and regenerate with appropriate, timely treatment. However, if damage is left untreated, it can lead to increasing amounts of scarring causing cirrhosis and liver failure. Our board-certified hepatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating illness of the liver including:

• Acute viral hepatitis A,B,D and E
• Chronic viral hepatitis B and C
• Autoimmune liver disease
• Drug-Induced liver disease
• Alcohol-induced liver disease
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
• Metabolic and hereditary liver disease
• Liver disease specific to pregnancy
• Liver cancer
• Complications of cirrhosis

Our goal is to diagnose and treat these illnesses early to prevent excessive scarring and progression to cirrhosis.