Almost half a million people annually in the U.S. undergo a procedure called Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to diagnose problems in their liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. As part of its Vision for Tomorrow strategic plan, Lakewood Hospital has invested in new, state-of-the-art direct visualization technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat conditions such as obstructions and stones within the biliary tract.

 “This is an exiting milestone for the Lakewood Hospital Digestive Health Center and the patients who will benefit from the advanced capabilities this new, breakthrough technology has to offer,” says Janice G. Murphy, FACHE, president of Lakewood and Fairview hospitals.  “By investing in state-of-the-art technology such as this, we can continue to provide patients with the most advanced care close to home.” This new endoscopic technology uses a miniature 6,000 pixel fiber optic probe that provides physicians with a direct view of a patient’s bile ducts, overcoming some of the visual challenges of conventional ERCP procedures. 

“This equipment adds a new dimension to the way we diagnose and treat,” explains gastroenterologist, Newton Muthunayagam, M.D. “In the past, we’ve had indirect imaging of the bile duct, but with the new scope, we are now able to explore those parts of the digestive system and see first-hand what’s going on.”

The procedure is done under sedation or anesthesia but is typically an outpatient procedure. Unlike more conventional technologies, this technology is not only used for diagnostics, but for performing certain procedures as well. Physicians can fragment large stones, open obstructed bile ducts and obtain biopsies in suspected tumors – most of which previously required surgery.

“It is truly a means of enhancing patient care,” adds Mousab Tabbaa, M.D., chief of gastroenterology at Lakewood Hospital. “For the physician, we can see things we couldn’t before and maximize the accuracy of our diagnosis. Our patients benefit from shorter hospital stays and better overall care. Lakewood Hospital’s Digestive Health Center is now a high-tech center of excellence.” Lakewood Hospital’s Digestive Health Center is one of the few in the area offering this type of endoscopic procedure. For more information, contact the Center at 216-529-7220.