Our Endoscopic Firsts
The team of advanced endoscopists at the Digestive Health Center perform state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures for the management of both common and complex digestive health issues. We rank among the highest volumes in the region in most procedures with excellent outcomes.
We perform more than 1,500 Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) procedures each year. Because of our expertise in these techniques, many of our patients are referred by gastroenterologists and surgeons not affiliated with Hartford HealthCare.
Our doctors were the first in the state to perform these advanced endoscopic procedures:
- EUS-guided Pancreatic Rendezvous: For patients with a failed ERCP procedure, this procedure with an endoscope and X-rays gives doctors access to the pancreatic duct for treatment of difficult problems like strictures, gallstones and cysts.
- EUS-Guided Pancreatic Necrosectomy: Treating cases of acute pancreatitis in which part of the pancreas dies.
- POEM (Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy): For swallowing disorders, such as achalasia.
- Gastrojejunostomy: Making a new connection between the stomach and small bowel for patients with an obstructed gastric outlet.
Our Surgical Expertise
There’s built-in access to our GI surgical team and the expansive group of colorectal, bariatric, hepatobiliary and surgical oncology, thoracic and general surgeons at Hartford HealthCare. Our nurse navigator will coordinate your care, answer any questions and provided needed resources.
The Digestive Health Center surgical specialists offer a full range of complex surgical options for digestive diseases, including disorders of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, small and large intestine, colon, abdominal wall hernias and obesity.
Our board-certified, sub-specialty trained surgeons offer depth of experience and skill, often performing procedures in combination with other specialists such as urology, vascular surgery, plastic surgery and gynecology. Our surgeons have pioneered many minimally invasive techniques, including gallbladder surgery and complex colon resections. This level of innovative thinking continues to drive our team of specialists to provide the most cutting-edge surgical care in the area.
We have a robust robotic, minimally invasive surgery program resulting in minimal pain, enhanced recovery and shorter hospital stays. Our team was the first to perform both partial and complete robotic-assisted esophagectomy, a procedure performed for patients with esophageal cancer.
With the highest volume of minimally invasive colon resections in New England, our colorectal surgeons are experts in cutting-edge treatment techniques and recognized around the country for their expertise. In fact, Healthgrades America has made us a Five-Star Recipient for Colorectal Surgeries four years in a row.
We also have the largest team of fellowship-trained hernia experts in Connecticut who perform more robotic complex abdominal wall reconstruction procedures than any other program in the region.
The medical and surgical weight loss program is a long-trusted, comprehensive weight management program for patients with obesity, bringing our technologically advanced, research-focused expertise to our local-community offices throughout the state. This expert team has helped close to 6,000 people with obesity regain their health and quality of life through bariatric surgery, as well as countless others through the obesity medicine program.