Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Children's Hospital Los Angeles offers the latest techniques and technology available for performing diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopies. Our skilled pediatric gastroenterologists perform more than 750 endoscopic procedures annually and specialize in endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and deep small bowel enteroscopy. They also have expertise in pediatric pancreatic and biliary diseases.

During an endoscopic procedure, a flexible tube with a lighted end (endoscope) is used to obtain clear images of the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Gastroenterology offers the following procedures and technology to help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions and illnesses, including ulcers, inflammation and polyps:

• Diagnostic upper endoscopy
• Diagnostic colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy
• Esophageal dilatation
• Double-balloon enterosocoy (DBE): Allows complete examination of the small bowel to help manage small bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Helps diagnose conditions affecting the bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreas.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): Obtains high-quality images of organs inside the body to evaluate and treat pancreatico-biliary diseases, such as chronic pancreatitis and choledocholithiasis.
• Endoscopic control of intestinal bleeding
• Placement of feeding gastrostomy tubes