Esophageal Diseases

The Esophageal Disease Center at the Heart and Lung Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital offers comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation for esophageal disease in adults and children. Our team comprises specialists in thoracic surgery, radiology, gastroenterology, surgery, pulmonology, rehabilitation, speech pathology, otolaryngology and pathology.

Esophageal Conditions Treated

The team evaluates all esophageal disorders including:

• Diverticulae
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Barrett's esophagus
• Hiatal hernia
• Swallowing disorders, including achalasia and diffuse esophageal spasm

Diagnosing Esophageal Diseases

St. Joseph’s uses a variety of methods to diagnose esophageal diseases.

• Esophageal pH monitoring using either catheter probes or the Bravo probe (remote radiotelemetry device)
• Manometry using ManoScan (high-resolution esophageal manometry). With solid-state micro transducer technology, assessment of the entire esophagus including the cricopharyngeus is performed. Reports are generated within 72 hours and returned to the referring physician.
• Endoscopy
• Esophageal ultrasound
• Digital video-esophagram to evaluate real-time swallowing and bolus transport

Treatment Options for Esophageal Disease

The Center works closely with the patient's physician to monitor and offer ongoing treatment recommendations.

• Barrett's Ablation (Bârrx). A new technique using radio-frequency ablation to circumferentially remove the Barrett's lining in an outpatient setting. Patients have the opportunity of participating in a Barrett's registry to follow the progression of their disease.
• Surgical therapy for GERD including minimally-invasive approaches (lap Nissen) and revision surgery after failure of previous procedures
• Resection of diverticulae, cricopharyngeal myotomy and Heller myotomy
• Resection of esophageal and gastric cancer, in the context of multidisciplinary decision-making regarding the benefits of neo- and adjuvant chemo-radiation
• Laser therapy, Argon beam coagulation, stenting, and brachytherapy are available to treat esophageal and gastric cancers in the palliative setting

Contact the Center for Thoracic and Esophageal Disease

For more information or referrals to the Center for Thoracic and Esophageal Disease, please call 602-406-6770.