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Digestive Health

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterologists are physician specialists that care for the stomach and digestive system. They use a variety of diagnostic tools including those available in the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging Center and such invasive studies as endoscopy, which are typically provided in the Outpatient Surgical Services Suite.

 

Contact Information

Kent Hospital
455 Toll Gate Road
Warwick, RI 02886
P: (401) 737-7000
P: 1 (800) 892-9291

Care New England Esophageal Center

We're a specialized, multidisciplinary team that diagnoses and treats complex disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, and foregut.

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Our Services

Colonoscopy

Physicians use a colonoscope to look inside the colon from the rectum all the way up to the lower end of the small intestine in order to detect polyps or precancerous growths.

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Endoscopy

Endoscopy procedures are performed in the hospital's state-of-the-art Ambulatory Surgery Center, located adjacent to the Kent Hospital main entrance.

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ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography is used to diagnose and sometimes treat problems with the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.

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Enteroscopy

This procedure uses an endoscope (a long, flexible, lighted tube) to examine the small bowel. It is usually done to locate sources of bleeding in the GI tract.

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Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

This procedure lets your physician look at the large intestine from the rectum through the last part of the colon called the sigmoid or descending colon.

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Colorectal Cancer Screening

Scheduling a colorectal screening appointment often begins with a referral from your primary care physician. At Kent, our scheduling team is available to assist our patients with this process. Don’t wait. Preventative screening saves lives.

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Common Questions About Digestive Disorders

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and what are its symptoms?
The causes of IBS are not understood but it is believed faulty movement of the intestine causes an accumulation of gas and bacteria in the bowel, which causes irregular bowel movements, a sensation of bloating, and cramping.
How is IBS the same and/or different from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
With IBS, the movement of the intestine is altered but the lining of the intestine is normal. With IBD, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the lining of the intestine becomes inflamed and ulcerated, causing bleeding, infection, scarring with narrowing, and even blockage of the intestine. The two diseases often manifest similarly at the beginning with cramps and diarrhea but if IBD is not treated, it can lead to serious complications and even colon cancer.
How is IBD treated?
There are many medications - including newer and more potent ones - available to help control IBD by working to decrease inflammation in the intestine. Many patients never require surgery.
Are IBS and IBD more common in women?
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are the most common forms of IBD, probably occur with the same frequency in men and women, although some studies suggest that Crohn's may be slightly more frequent in women.
Are there any gastrointestinal disorders related to pregnancy?
Pregnancy exacerbates almost all gastrointestinal disorders, from gastroesophageal acid reflux to IBS and IBD. Gallstone formation is enhanced and hepatitis and liver disease may get worse during pregnancy. In addition, there are a few specific gastrointestinal diseases that occur only during pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum, for example, is a very extreme form of morning sickness that can lead to serious complications for the mother, including kidney failure and neurological issues, and fetal loss. In addition, pregnancy can also lead to cholestasis, which blocks the flow of bile from the liver; preeclampsia; and acute fatty liver.
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
Symptoms vary depending on the location of the cancer within the colon or rectum, though there may be no symptoms at all. The most common presenting symptom is rectal bleeding. Cancers arising from the left side of the colon generally cause bleeding, and in their late stages may cause constipation, abdominal pain, and obstructive symptoms. On the other hand, right-sided colon cancer may produce vague abdominal aching or weakness, weight loss, and anemia from chronic blood loss.
Can colorectal cancer be prevented? How?

Screenings can detect CRC when it can be treated. In the meantime, certain practices have been identified as protecting the body against CRC, including:

  • Diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in red meat, animal fat, and/or cholesterol
  • Folic acid, vitamin B6, and calcium
  • Regular physical activity and maintenance of normal body weight
  • Smoking cessation
  • Regular use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women, although these drugs are not routinely recommended for chemoprevention of colon cancer due to the associated long-term risks
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), although data is conflicting
Who should be screened? How often?

Screenings can detect CRC when it can be treated. For individuals at normal risk, screening tests should begin at age 50. The preferred approach is a screening colonoscopy conducted every 10 years. In addition, consider the following recommendations for screening:

  • Physician experts with the American College of Gastroenterology issued new recommendations that CRC screening in African Americans begin at age 45.
  • Colonoscopic surveillance needs to be performed at more frequent intervals for individuals at high risk for colon cancer (for instance, those with a personal history of CRC or adenomatous polyps, family history of CRC, HNPCC, FAP, or IBD).
  • An alternate strategy consists of an annual stool test for blood and a flexible sigmoidoscopic exam every three to five years.