UIC Digestive Disease and Liver Center Services

The Digestive Disease and Liver Center offers a full range of services directed toward the diagnosis and treatment of digestive and liver disorders. Specialized services are available in the following areas:

Liver Diseases

Our team of physicians are recognized for their expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Utilizing the latest therapies available, our physicians have focused on various liver problems including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver tumors and cancer. Our physicians are nationally recognized for liver research in the diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. This team also identifies patients who would benefit from liver transplantation.

Liver Transplantation

Our highly respected team of liver transplant surgeons work closely with the physicians and nursing staff of the Liver Center to provide you with an efficient, coordinated and compassionate continuum of care. We are extremely proud of our excellent outco9mes in liver transplantation. This excellence is due to our long-standing experience in liver transplantation.

Therapeutic Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases

Biliary and pancreatic endoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that focuses on the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of the diseases of bile ducts and pancreas. Our specialized team of physicians and nurses utilize state-of-the-art efficient techniques for patients with:

• non-malignant bile duct diseases

• pancreatic and bile duct malignancies

• chronic or recurrent pancreatitis

• biliary stone extraction

• pseudocysts of the pancreas

• chronic abdominal pain

Our biliary team focuses on meaningful outcomes such as reducing the need for major surgical procedures, decreasing discomfort, and reducing time away from work.

Colorectal Diseases

Our physicians focus on the treatment of colon and rectal disorders, including the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer. In addition, we offer expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of:

• irritable bowel syndrome

• chronic diarrheal disorder

• inflammatory bowel disease

• ulcerative colitis

• Chrons disease

• rectal incontinence

The Center also provides infrared abalation of hemorrhoids, a non-surgical procedure for the treatment of hemorrhoids performed in an outpatient setting.

Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders)

The Digestive Disease and Liver Center features an integrated team of physicians, radiologists, nurses, nutritionists and speech therapists focusing on the underlying cause, diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders and esophageal motility problems such as achalasia.

Gallstones

A team of medical and surgical specialists who have expertise in gallbladder disorders are available for consultation. The team offers non-surgical procedures to treat gallstones, such as the new laparoscopic technique to remove the gallbladder (laparoscopic cholecystectomy)

Endoscopic Ultrasound

The UIC Digestive and Liver Disease Center is a major referral center in the Chicago area for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This technique allows for detailed imaging of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and surrounding organs via sound waves and assists physicians in:

• diagnosis of gastrointestinal, pancreatic and biliary tumors

• diagnosis of masses deep within the gastrointestinal wall when conventional surface biopsies are unhelpful

• staging of tumors of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum and biliary system

• performing fine-needle aspiration of suspicious lesions seen on x-ray

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