Gastroenterology

Whole-person gastroenterology
Integrative medicine is more than what you might think. At the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center, it’s as evidence-based and scientific as any surgical technique. Gastroenterologist Linda Lee shares her head-to-gut approach for treating irritable bowel syndrome.

Seeing is believing
Mini-peritoneoscopy uses a smaller scope to gain a wider view. Its benefits are numerous—most importantly it reduces liver-sampling errors. Find out how this technology refines diagnoses.

Islets for the weary
Pancreatectomy may relieve pancreatitis, but the loss of islet cells can cause uncontrollable diabetes. A multidisciplinary team at Hopkins can now transplant islets to the liver to avoid this complication. Read more about this cutting-edge technique.

For bleeding ulcers: The great equalizer
Bleeding ulcers in complex locations require the attention of an experienced endoscopist. But a severe bleed can’t wait for expertise to arrive. Hopkins gastroenterologist Patrick Okolo leads a team investigating an alternative: a blood-staunching powder. Learn more about the promising results of this treatment.

Putting Barrett's ablation in its place
New treatments for Barrett’s esophagus run from hot to cold. Cryotherapy—invented here at Hopkins—is a promising alternative to radiofrequency (RF) ablation and offers hope for patients not eligible for RF.

Endoscopy into the breach
Who would imagine a surgery to correct achalasia—overactive esophageal sphincter—taking place in an endoscopy suite, not an OR? The natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) skips the incision, taking an oral approach. Learn more about NOTES.

When the stomach also rises
To those it affects, paraesophageal hernia feels like something far more common: gastrointestinal reflux or chest pain. But this condition, when the stomach migrates up through the diaphragm, is not common and its only remedy is surgery. At The Johns Hopkins Hospital, GI surgeon Anne Lidor performs this laparoscopically.

Take (vitamin) D and see
Vitamin D is well known for its many benefits—aiding calcium absorption and supporting immunity. But microbiologists investigating the causes of inflammatory bowel disease accidentally discovered it might significantly reduce colitis.

Minimal scope. Maximum view.
It sounds absurd: how can a smaller laparoscopy afford a bigger view? Endoscopists Patrick Okolo, Tony Kalloo and Zhiping Li will tell you it's because of the mobility it allows them.

For a Low-Profile Illness, an Elusive Treatment
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is part of a multicenter clinical trial aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Ten Tips to Prevent GERD
Patients with GERD can often manage symptoms without medication. Help your patients learn how with this tip sheet.

Endoscopy's Growing Arsenal Against Obesity
Patrick Okolo, chief of gastrointestinal endoscopy, is developing several NOTE-worthy procedures to stem the rising tide of obesity.