Endoscopy

For liver and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, endoscopy can be a great alternative to surgery because it provides quicker recovery times, no scarring and shorter hospital stays.

At the Henry Ford Liver Disease Center, we are experienced in the latest endoscopy procedures to treat liver disease. Our experienced team is on-call 24 hours a day, giving you access to these procedures when you need them most.

Endoscopy at Henry Ford Liver Disease Center

We are the most advanced therapeutic endoscopy center in the metro Detroit area. As a major referral center for hospitals in the region, we are on track to perform more than 2,000 endoscopic procedures for liver disease this year. Our program features:

• Prestigious, experienced gastroenterology team: Our gastroenterology specialists were recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for safety and quality of care. Only 27 organizations in the U.S. have this distinction.
• Innovative research: Our large program offers you access to new technology and treatment options that aren’t available anywhere else. Learn more about research & clinical trials at Henry Ford.
• The latest advances in endoscopic technology: Our SpyGlass® Direct Visualization System is an advanced fiber optic camera that gives your physician unparalleled visualization of the pancreas, liver and bile ducts.

Advanced options for liver endoscopy

We offer a wide array of diagnostic and advanced therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including:

• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Endoscopic stenting
• Bear claw over-the-scope clip

We also offer liver ablation therapy, including cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a minimally invasive procedure using an endoscope (a thin, flexible lighted tube) and X rays to diagnose and treat problems within the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts.

Our active gastroenterologists are among the most experienced in the region, on target to perform 1,000 ERCPs this year -- the most in the area.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

During an endoscopic ultrasound, your gastroenterologist uses an endoscope and sound waves to obtain accurate, detailed images of your digestive system and surrounding organs. It’s a safer alternative to traditional biopsy, where a tissue sample is removed by physically cutting into your body. At Henry Ford, our experienced team is on target to perform about 1,000 EUS this year alone.

Endoscopic stenting

Endoscopic stenting is a minimally invasive procedure where a stent (small metal or plastic mesh tube) is placed via endoscope into the bile ducts to stretch them and relieve obstructions (blockages). Our endoscopic stenting options include:

• Enteral stenting: Placing a stent within the esophagus (food pipe) to relieve an obstruction or close a hole in it
• Biliary stenting: Placing a stent in the bile duct system to alleviate an obstruction caused by cancer
• Pancreatic stenting: Placing a stent in the pancreatic duct (the tube connecting the pancreas to the common bile duct) to treat chronic pancreatitis

Bear claw over-the-scope clipping

If you have a perforation (tear or hole) and leaks in your GI tract, you may benefit from bear claw over-the-scope clipping. The bear-claw over-the-scope (OTSC) clip is an innovative device used to close perforations without surgery. The OTSC is a clip made of nickel titanium that grabs the tissue and closes the perforation, like a bear claw trap.