Call us on 020 7183 7965

Treatments Explained (Part One)

If you suffer from a digestive disorder such as IBS or acid reflux, you will be well aware that the symptoms can be highly uncomfortable and incredibly unpleasant. This is why many people like you come to the London Gastroenterology Centre for diagnosis and treatment. However, the treatments can sometimes seem just as unpleasant as the illness itself, so there are many people who would rather suffer in silence instead of seeking treatment which is often not as terrible as they thought. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the treatment options that we offer and explain a little more about them in order for you to feel less anxious and worried about them. In the first of our series, we’ll begin by looking at treatment options for Barrett’s Oesophagus.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)

This is a treatment that is performed on those who suffer from Barrett’s Oesophagus. The disorder can sometimes cause the appearance of nodules in the inner lining of the oesophagus which should be removed. This is to allow a pathologist to closely examine the tissue in order to find out if they are cancerous.

The procedure itself is simple and relatively quick and you should be able to go home within four hours.  Your doctor may mark the area of the nodule, particularly if it is very small as this will make it easier to ensure that the nodule is completely removed.

The next step may involve injecting salt water or adrenaline under the nodule itself. This will help to reduce the bleeding and is particularly useful when treating areas that are more prone to bleeding.

The next step involves snaring the nodule which is done with the use of a loop which will be placed around the area and slowly closed. This will stop the blood vessels from bleeding as the nodule is removed.

Within four hours you should be free to go home. You will probably feel a little sore in the chest or back for up to a week, but the discomfort should ease off fairly quickly. If you continue to feel pain or discomfort for longer than a week, particularly when swallowing, you should see your doctor again as you may have a stricture which will need further treatment.

After undergoing EMR treatment, we would usually recommend further treatment with HALO Radiofrequency Ablation.

HALO Radiofrequency Ablation

This treatment is a minimally invasive procedure for Barrett’s Oesophagus. The success rates are high with 75% of patients with high-grade dysplasia in the original trials, reporting a complete reversal of the oesophageal lining to a normal level.

 After treatment, you are likely to feel some pain and discomfort in the chest and back for up to 10  days, and you may find it difficult to eat for up to two weeks. You should take a liquid diet for the  first 24 hours after treatment, and only eat soft foods for the next two weeks.

 If you would like to hear more about how the treatment works, you can watch the video below where  our very own Professor Lovat speaks about the procedure.

Here at the London Gastroenterology Centre,we specialise in treating disorders such as Barrett’s Oesophagus, acid reflux and IBS in London. Our team of qualified doctors are experts in their field and have plenty of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. If you would like to find out more about any of our treatment options or book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today by calling 020 7183 7965 to speak to a member of our expert team.

We are available to see patients daily.

For a private consultation contact us on
020 7183 7965

Find your nearest practice location

Start typing and press Enter to search

Call Now