Gastroenterologists in South Tampa

The gastroenterologists at Memorial Hospital of Tampa provide complete care for conditions affecting the digestive system. Comprehensive diagnostic services are available in addition to a wide range of treatment options, including endoscopy. The staff in our endoscopy suite is committed to making your visit as convenient and pleasant as possible. To help ensure patient comfort, we administer sedation in advance of an endoscopic procedure.

To learn more about the types of gastrointestinal conditions we treat, please call our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (855) 245-8329.

Conditions we treat

Specialists in gastroenterology at our hospital offer care for patients with the following conditions:

  • Celiac disease (malabsorption)—This is a type of immune disease that prevents people from eating gluten, as it causes damage to the small intestine.
  • Crohn's disease—This is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It results in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding—This is the descriptive term used for any type of bleeding in the GI tract. Patients may experience symptoms such as vomiting black or red blood, blood in the stool or black stool.
  • GERD—A chronic condition wherein the barrier between the stomach and esophagus allows stomach acid to repeatedly reflux, resulting in irritation of the esophagus.
  • Heartburn and acid reflux—These conditions occur when acid refluxes into the lower portion of the esophagus from the stomach and can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • Intestinal disorders—This term encompasses a range of conditions, such as constipation, hemorrhoids, colon polyps and anal fissures.

Endoscopic treatment for GI conditions

In addition to complete surgical services, our hospital is also home to an advanced endoscopy surgical suite dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of GI conditions. The endoscopic procedures performed in this suite combine advanced technology with high-quality patient care and comfort.

Endoscopic procedures offered include:

  • Bravo capsule—This test allows a small capsule to be placed in the esophagus for 48 hours. It assesses the amount of acid backing up into the esophagus from the stomach.
  • Bronchoscopy—This is a technique that allows your doctor to view inside the airways via a bronchoscope (a scope with a small light and camera).
  • Colonoscopy—This is an examination of the colon and rectum via a scope inserted through the rectum. It is used to detect changes or abnormalities, such as polyps.
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)—This procedure allows your physician to view the bile and pancreatic ducts.
  • Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tube—This procedure offers a method of providing nutrients, such as food, liquid and medications, directly to the stomach. This is often useful for patients experiencing swallowing disorders or difficulty swallowing.
  • Sigmoidoscopy—This procedure is used to look inside of the sigmoid colon (pelvic colon) to identify abnormalities, such as ulcers, polyps, cancer and/or abnormal cells.
  • Small bowel endoscopy—This procedure closely examines the small intestine and aids in diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the small bowel.
  • Upper endoscopy—This procedure is used to examine the upper GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach and part of the small intestine.

Your physician will discuss options and procedures needed to accurately diagnose your digestive health concern.

GERD treatment

GERD affects millions of adults in the U.S. Although heartburn and acid reflux are GI conditions on there own, GERD occurs when a patient experiences heartburn and acid reflux on a regular basis.

GERD is caused by the weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle improperly allowing acid and bile to reflux from the stomach. It can cause injury to the esophagus lining and, oftentimes, symptoms such as chest pain, heartburn, regurgitation, sore throat and cough.

The specialists at our hospital offer advanced treatment options for patients with GERD. These treatments include:

  • Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication—This minimally invasive procedure restores the natural function of the LES.
  • Magnetic reflux management system—This procedure inserts a flexible band of magnets around a weakened LES. The magnetic attraction in the band helps to keep the esophageal sphincter closed to prevent acid reflux.
  • Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF)—This procedure is performed using an endoscope, no incision is necessary, and wraps a portion of the stomach around the esophagus to alleviate symptoms associated with GERD.