- Medical Weight Loss
- ColonoscopyWhile a large percentage of people realize what a colonoscopy is, not as many are familiar with the difference between a screening colonoscopy and a diagnostic colonoscopy. At Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, our experienced gastrointestinal (GI) specialists frequently conduct screening and diagnostic colonoscopies for adults throughout the DFW area. Keep reading to discover additional details surrounding these types of colonoscopy exams, when they may be needed, and how they can help safeguard your digestive and general health.
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel SyndromeDr. Tim Ritter was born in San Antonio and raised in Amarillo, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1984 and attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Following medical school, Dr. Ritter did his internship and residency in internal medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital and was board certified in internal medicine in 1990 and re-certified in 2000. Dr. Ritter completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1993. He was board certified in gastroenterology in 1993 and re-certified in 2000 and 2013. He has been actively involved in clinical research with TDDC since 2009 and has been a principal investigator in over 30 trials involving Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and GERD. He has been a sub-investigator in hepatology for studies involving Hepatitis C, PBC, and fatty liver. His passion for research comes from seeing new therapeutic options for patients become available through clinical trials.
- ElectrocardiogramYou will be asked to arrive at the Endoscopy center 1 to 1.5 hours before your exam. This is to allow time to fill out paper work and prepare for the exam. You will be asked to change into a medical gown. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be started in your arm so that sedation can be administered. You will be connected to equipment which will allow the doctor and staff to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, electrocardiogram, breathing and oxygen level during and after the exam.
- Diarrhea
- Internal MedicineDr. Trotter completed his internal medicine residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas and a GI fellowship and Transplant Hepatology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center where he served as an attending physician for two years. He was then recruited to the University of Colorado where he ran a busy clinical research practice in chronic liver disease, living donor liver transplant, and liver transplantation. He then assumed the role of Director of Hepatology at Baylor University Medical Center in 2009. He is the Deputy Editor for the journal Liver Transplantation and Associate Editor for the American Journal of Transplantation and co-author of the book Medical Care of the Liver Transplant Patient. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.
- GastroenterologyWhen your local gastroenterologist is a member of the GI Alliance (GIA), it means that your gastroenterology practice is supported by the nation’s largest and most reputable team of gastroenterology experts. The partnership between GI practices allows physicians to continue providing the highest-quality of personalized care to their patients while establishing an organization with the resources to provide the most innovative and superb care.
- Colon CancerEach year, millions of patients are impacted by colorectal cancer and its effects. When the condition is identified early, colon and rectal cancer can be treated with success, providing a high chance of survival. Routine tests for colon cancer allow physicians to screen for precancerous tissues in the large intestine (colon) and rectum, and monitor for any further concerns should a person’s odds of developing the disease end up being elevated.
- EndoscopyAfter the exam is complete, the patient is taken to the recovery room to be monitored while the sedation starts to wear off. The amount of sedation used during the exam and the patient’s individual response to the medication will dictate how quickly the patient wakes up, though most patients are awake enough for discharge within 45-60 minutes. You will not be allowed to drive for the rest of the day; therefore, you will need to arrange for a ride home. You will also be instructed not to work, sign important papers, or perform strenuous activities for the rest of the day. Most patients are able to eat and drink normally after their discharge from the Endoscopy unit, however, specific instructions regarding activity, eating, and medications will be given to the patient prior to discharge.
- Ultrasound
- MRIMRI, MRA, MRCP Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) What is […]
- X-Rays
- Nuclear Medicine
- Computed TomographyTo an extent, the alternatives to the exam will depend on the reason for needing to undergo the colonoscopy in the first place. In most cases, the colonoscopy is the best method to evaluate and treat abnormalities in the colon. However, there are different x-rays which can evaluate the colon including barium enema, virtual CT scan. These are however only diagnostic exams. Treatment of abnormalities will require a colonoscopy or surgery.