Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Specialist

Advanced GI LLC

Gastroenterologists located in Chicago, IL

If you have abnormal growths or early signs of cancer in your digestive tract, an endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) may be part of your diagnosis and treatment. Michael Flicker, MD, and Carl Atallah, DO, offer comprehensive EMR care at Advanced GI LLC in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The experienced gastroenterologists customize your treatment plan to remove suspicious tissue and cancerous growths without major surgery or a long recovery time. Find out more about endoscopic mucosal resection by booking an appointment online or calling Advanced GI LLC today.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection Q&A

What is endoscopic mucosal resection?

Endoscopic mucosal resection is a minimally invasive procedure to remove abnormal growths and precancerous tissue from the lining of your gastrointestinal organs.

You might be a candidate for EMR if you have symptoms related to Barrett’s esophagus, non-cancerous colon polyps, or non-cancerous uterine tissue growths (leiomyomas).

You may also need an EMR if you have early-stage cancer in your:

Colon
Rectum
Stomach
Esophagus
Small intestine

The team can determine if you need an endoscopic mucosal resection by reviewing your symptoms and your medical history. They may first recommend diagnostic testing like an upper endoscopy to confirm the presence of precancerous or cancerous tissue.

What happens during an endoscopic mucosal resection?

During an EMR, your provider inserts a long, narrow tube with an attached light and camera into your mouth and down into your digestive tract. If you have an EMR to treat your colon issues, they insert the tube into your anus.

Through the tube, your physician inserts specialized tools to remove abnormal tissue. They may introduce air through the tube to make the tissue more accessible for examination and removal. They send the collected tissue to a medical lab to determine if it’s cancerous.

You receive a sedative medication and an anesthetic to keep you relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.

How long does it take to recover from endoscopic mucosal resection?

Immediately following your EMR, you spend time recovering from the sedative. You can expect to go home after the sedative wears off but will need someone to drive you.

An EMR can cause mild side effects during the first 24 hours of your procedure. You may experience drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting. If your provider inserted the tube into your esophagus, you might have a sore throat.

Bloating or abdominal cramps are also common after an EMR if your physician pumped air into your gastrointestinal tract to access suspicious tissue.

Once your test results are ready, your provider reviews them to determine if you need additional treatment. They can discuss your options for preventing the progression or spread of cancer.

Find out more about the diagnostic benefits of endoscopic mucosal resection by scheduling an appointment online or calling Advanced GI LLC today.

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