Center for Esophageal Health

At �ٺ��Ƶ’s Center for Esophageal Health, our experts provide highly specialized care for people who have complex conditions of the esophagus and persistent, challenging symptoms that require advanced diagnosis and treatment.

Recognition

U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” ranks �ٺ��Ƶ among the top 5 hospitals in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery.

Our expertise allows us to offer leading-edge diagnostic testing, innovative therapies, and surgical options to people whose symptoms—chronic heartburn, regurgitation, belching, throat discomfort, difficulty swallowing, or non-cardiac chest pain—recur despite prior treatment. We also specialize in diagnosing and treating the underlying conditions that can cause those symptoms, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, hiatal or paraesophageal hernia, eosinophilic esophagitis, and achalasia or other swallowing disorders.

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“I had been in pain and suffering for so long, I had forgotten what it felt like to be normal. Thank you so much for making me feel better and giving me my best life back.”
Rikki, Age 57

No matter which esophageal health issue brings you to us, our multidiscliplinary team—including gastroenterology motility experts, advanced endoscopists, surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, and psychologists—provides advanced, comprehensive, and integrated care that supports your overall health and wellbeing.

A Personalized Approach to Care

Our team understands that no two people—or their symptoms—are alike. We carefully review your medical history, perform a thorough physical exam, and use the most sophisticated diagnostic tests available to understand the relationship between your symptoms and the functioning of your gastrointestinal tract. We use all of this information to determine the cause of your symptoms, and then we partner with you to create a personalized treatment plan for your health needs.

Our experts partner with you to create a personalized treatment plan for your health needs.

We also coordinate with your referring doctor and, when needed, specialists in other areas, such as allergy medicine; cardiology; ear, nose, and throat medicine; physical therapy; pulmonology; sleep medicine; and speech and swallowing therapy, among others, to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Specialized Diagnostic Capabilities

Our experts use highly specialized diagnostic techniques and leading technology to provide an accurate diagnosis. In addition to general upper gastrointestinal diagnostic testing, such as barium esophagram and upper endoscopy, we use tests including the following:

high-resolution esophageal manometry with impedance, which allows doctors to examine the esophageal sphincter, a ring of muscles that form a valve between the esophagus and stomach, as well as how the esophagus functions during swallowing
24-hour pH impedance testing, which measures the extent to which stomach contents move into the esophagus over a full day
48- to 96-hour wireless pH testing, which measures and records the level of acidity in your esophagus over multiple days
functional lumen imaging probe evaluation, also known as FLIP, a minimally invasive procedure that measures the diameter and contractions of the esophagus
advanced techniques to diagnose Barrett’s esophagus, including WATS 3D brush biopsy, which may detect early esophageal cancer, and confocal laser, which provides precise and detailed imaging during a biopsy
endoscopic ultrasound, also known as EUS, which can provide images through the wall of the esophagus not seen with standard upper endoscopy

Advanced Treatment Options

We offer a full range of treatment options, including diet and lifestyle recommendations, complementary and integrative medical approaches, behavioral psychology treatments and counseling, physical therapies such as swallowing therapy, and the latest available prescribed medications.

Our examinations and diagnostic testing may also lead us to recommend other innovative treatments and surgical options. Our doctors specialize in advanced endoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures including the following.

Treatments for GERD

laparoscopic and transoral incisionless fundoplication, in which doctors partially or completely wrap the top part of the stomach around the lower esophagus to prevent the backflow of acid
minimally invasive hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia repair, during which the surgeon brings the portion of stomach that herniates into the chest back into the abdomen, tightens the diaphragmatic opening, and performs a partial fundoplication
minimally invasive LINX® Reflux Management System magnetic sphincter augmentation, a procedure in which a magnetic ring is placed around the lower esophagus to stop the backflow of stomach contents
Stretta® endoscopic radiofrequency treatment, which uses low-frequency energy to thicken the muscles of the esophagus, which then form a natural barrier to acid

In most cases, you can go home the same day or within 24 hours after these procedures.

Treatments for Barrett’s Esophagus

cryotherapy, in which extreme cold is used to destroy damaged tissue
endoscopic mucosal resection, also called EMR, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove abnormal or precancerous tissue from the lining of the esophagus
endoscopic submucosal dissection, also called ESD, a procedure in which a liquid is injected under abnormal tissue to raise it and make it easier for doctors to remove
radiofrequency ablation, in which high-energy radio waves are used to destroy precancerous tissue

Treatments for Swallowing Disorders

endoscopic Botox® therapy, a treatment in which the doctor injects Botox® into the lower esophageal sphincter to relax the muscles and make swallowing easier
endoscopic dilatation, in which doctors use a balloon-like instrument or tubes to enlarge the esophagus and ease swallowing
endoscopic stent placement, in which the surgeon places a hollow tube into the esophagus to make swallowing easier
myotomy, in which the doctor cuts some of the muscles in the esophagus to ease swallowing; our doctors are experts in minimally invasive Heller myotomy and peroral endoscopic myotomy, also called POEM

If your treatment plan involves weight loss or a surgical weight loss procedure, we work closely with our bariatric surgeons and other experts at �ٺ��Ƶ’s Weight Management Program to provide you with care and support.

Depending on your symptoms, diagnosis, and other health needs, our doctors may also recommend you participate in one of our , which provide access to investigational therapies.

For people who need further evaluation or treatment for esophageal or stomach cancer, we collaborate closely with our experts at the Perlmutter Cancer Center.