Endoluminal surgery for GI conditions

Endoluminal surgery expands on the minimally invasive nature of endoscopy procedures to perform more delicate surgeries. For example, some kinds of GI tract tumors grow up too close to the muscles, which makes them hard to remove completely in a single piece (en bloc). Endoluminal surgery works better in these conditions than other methods and removes the tumors in an en bloc manner. Aurora Health Care offers advanced endoluminal surgery for a variety of gastrointestinal conditions.

What is endoluminal surgery?

Endoluminal surgery is a minimally invasive GI surgery that uses endoscopy to perform surgical procedures by inserting the endoscope and tools through the mouth for upper GI procedures and through the anus for lower GI procedures.

Because endoluminal surgery uses the body’s natural openings, it causes less damage to healthy tissues and is easier on the body than traditional surgery. Patients experience:

• Organ preservation
• No visible scarring
• Faster recovery
• Fewer complications
• Less pain
• Less bleeding
• Fewer infections

Conditions treated with endoluminal surgery

Aurora Health Care offers advanced endoluminal surgery to treat conditions like:

• Larger polyps and early cancers in the GI tract
• Pouches in the upper esophagus (Zenker’s diverticulum)
• Delayed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis)
• Spastic disorders of the esophagus
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
• Widening of the stomach outlet (sometimes needed after gastric bypass surgery)

Conditions treated with third space endoscopy

Third space endoscopy is a type of endoluminal surgery where the surgery is performed in the third space of a body part such as the wall of the GI tract. These surgeries would have otherwise required open or laparoscopic/robotic surgery and removal of a part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Examples of third space endoscopy include:

• Endoscopic submucosal dissection: Removes a GI tract polyp or an early cancer using an endoscope and endoscopic devices.
• Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM): Cuts a spastic muscle at the point where the esophagus and stomach meet.
• Gastric-per oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM): Cuts the muscle at the exit of the stomach to allow food to pass more easily into the small intestine.
• Zenker’s diverticulum (Z-POEM): Cuts a spastic muscle in the throat to make swallowing easier.

Why choose Aurora for endoluminal surgery in Wisconsin?

The Center for Endoluminal Surgery in Kenosha is one of only a few centers in the U.S. that perform endoluminal procedures because they require a high degree of expertise and precision. Aurora Health Care was an early adopter of these procedures in Wisconsin. We’re recognized as the best provider in Wisconsin and one of the two best providers in Illinois.