Winter 2015-2016
SHINE
27
Thanks to endoscopy, all of Jada’s treatment was able to
be done minimally invasively and without surgical incisions.
Endoscopy involves guiding a thin tube with a camera
attached to the end through the GI tract. Other tools can
follow and be used to repair tears in the intestinal lining,
remove tumors, and much more.
In particular for Jada, Dr. Kedia used endoscopy to
perform a pancreatic necrosectomy, which involves placing
a metal stent through the wall of the stomach to help drain
the necrotic fluid. Methodist Dallas is the first hospital in
Dallas–Fort Worth to offer this procedure through a U.S.
Food and Drug Administration–approved lumen-apposing
metal stent. In Jada’s complicated case, the endoscope was
also used to help remove the solid infected debris.
“In the past, patients would need some type of surgery
to go in and remove that tissue, which has risk for surgical
complications,” Dr. Kedia says. “Fortunately, we could go
through the stent with the endoscope and remove that dead
material. There are only a handful of pancreatic centers of
excellence in the country that can handle this type of disease
in a minimally invasive fashion, and we’re one of them.”
Time to celebrate
Jada was amazed at how easy the endoscopic procedures
were on her physically.
“There was no pain, and my throat wasn’t scratchy at
all,” she says. “It was like they didn’t do anything. I asked
Dr. Kedia, ‘Are you sure you went in there?’”
The proof is in Jada’s recovery. Months later, she
still feels great.
“God is good,” Jada says. “I’m thankful to Methodist
Dallas and all the doctors. I want to celebrate all the
people who helped me. I’d like to celebrate them
keeping me here.”
WHATWE TREAT
Here’s a quick look at all
the organs monitored and
treated at Methodist
Digestive Institute.
What doctors call it:
Radiofrequency
ablation (RFA)
How it helps:
Some patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease,
or GERD, can develop a condition
called Barrett’s esophagus, which
can lead to cancer. In RFA, a small
endoscopic device delivers heat
energy to corrupted esophagus
tissue, destroying it and relieving
the patient of reflux symptoms.
What doctors call it:
Peroral endoscopic
myotomy (POEM)
How it helps:
For people
with swallowing or
esophageal disorders, this
endoscopic procedure
removes or loosens tight
muscles in the esophagus
and stomach. Then the
esophagus is free to
work correctly.
What doctors call it:
Pancreaticoduodenectomy,
or Whipple procedure
How it helps:
This complicated
procedure involves removing the
cancerous head of the pancreas, along
with the gallbladder, the common bile
duct, part of the stomach and small
intestine, and lymph nodes. The surgeon
then reconnects the pancreas, stomach,
and small intestine to restore digestion.
Methodist Dallas is one of only a few
hospitals in the country performing the
Whipple robotically, which results in far
less pain and a faster recovery.
Esophagus
Bile ducts
Pancreas
Liver
Gallbladder
Stomach
Small
and large
intestines
Colon
LISTEN
TO YOUR GUT
Call
214-947-6296
and ask for
a referral.