Albert B. Knapp, MD, FACP, AGAF offers full consultative and diagnostic evaluations for his patients.  Endoscopy procedures are performed only when necessary and are scheduled by Dr. Knapp’s staff in such a way so as to maximize patient convenience.  In many cases, a variety of different endoscopic and radiographic procedures can be scheduled on the same day and are tailored to the patient’s specific needs.  Documentation of all procedures with a complete and extensive report including radiographic and pathologic findings is promptly sent to all referring physicians.  Written reports are available to the patient if so requested.  Post-procedure follow-up as well as timely & extensive telephone calls to the referring physicians are routinely undertaken.  Once all of the final results are available, Dr. Knapp then reviews these in detail with both the patient & the referring physician and appropriate treatment plans are discussed & implemented.

1.  GASTROSCOPY

This is a video-endoscopic examination of the stomach and first portion of the small bowel (duodenum).  This procedure combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities and includes the removal of pre-malignant or malignant growths called polyps, performance of diagnostic biopsies or scrapings, diagnostic cultures to evaluate potential gastrointestinal infections, endoscopic dilatation of strictures or narrowings, cauterization of bleeding sites or ulcers as well as ligating esophageal or gastric varices.  In addition, all procedures are photographed for documentation and educational purposes.

2.  ENTEROSCOPY

Enteroscopy is a video-endoscopic examination of the duodenum and jejunum, the first two portions of the small bowel.  This procedure combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities and includes the removal of pre-malignant or malignant growths called polyps, performance of diagnostic biopsies or scrapings, diagnostic cultures to evaluate potential gastrointestinal infections, endoscopic dilatation of intestinal strictures or narrowings, cauterization of bleeding sites or ulcers as well as ligating duodenal or jejeunal varices.  In addition, all procedures are photographed for documentation and educational purposes.

3.  COLONOSCOPY

A colonoscopy is a video-endoscopic examination of the lower intestine (colon).  This procedure combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities and includes the removal of pre-malignant or malignant growths called polyps, performance of diagnostic biopsies or scrapings, diagnostic cultures to evaluate potential gastrointestinal infections, endoscopic dilatation of intestinal strictures or narrowings, cauterization of bleeding sites or ulcers as well as ligating bleeding internal hemorrhoids.  In addition, all procedures are photographed for documentation and educational purposes.

4.  COLONOSCOPY WITH ILEOSCOPY

This procedure is a more extensive video-endoscopic version of the above-mentioned colonoscopy and includes careful evaluation of the distal small bowel (ileum).  This is a very high-tech video-endoscopic procedure, performed by only a very few specialists like Dr. Knapp. This procedure combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities including the removal of pre-malignant or malignant growths called polyps, performance of diagnostic biopsies or scrapings, diagnostic cultures to evaluate potential  gastrointestinal infections, endoscopic dilatation of intestinal strictures or narrowings and cauterization of bleeding sites or ulcers.  Ileoscopy is the diagnostic tool of choice for Crohn’s disease and distal small bowel tumors. In addition, all procedures are photographed for documentation and educational purposes.

5.  SMALL BOWEL CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY

This is a novel procedure where the patient swallows a small pill that encapsulates a diminutive television camera which is linked electronically to a transponder: 60,000 sequential pictures of the small intestine are obtained over an eight hour period.  This allows Dr. Knapp to visualize the entire small bowel.  All pictures are duly analyzed initially by a computer that is specially programmed to detect subtle small bowel lesions such as pre-malignant or malignant polyps, small bowel tumors or strictures, areas of Crohn’s disease, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or ulcers.  All studies are then carefully reviewed by Dr. Knapp.

6.  PERCUTANEOUS LIVER BIOPSY

This is an outpatient hospital procedure that is used to directly obtain small amounts of liver tissue for diagnostic purposes.  The patient is brought into the hospital at the duly appointed time and an initial abdominal ultrasound is performed to both assess the liver and ascertain the optimal biopsy site. Following local anesthesia, a tiny needle is then painlessly inserted by Dr. Knapp and one or more cores of hepatic tissue are recovered and submitted to both pathology and microbiology.  A complete report is usually generated within four to five workdays.