Saint Anthony’s Adds New Technology and Plans to Expand GI Center
(February 3, 2012) – New technology, additional medical staff and plans to open a new unit are part of Saint Anthony’s GI Center, where area residents turn for their digestive health issues.
“A focus of our Health Center is to offer quality health care to residents here at the local level,” says E.J. Kuiper, President & Chief Executive Officer. “One of our growing 
services is our GI Center and with the addition of Dr. Naeem Aslam to Saint Anthony’s Physician Group, patients can receive specialized procedures here at Saint Anthony’s rather than at hospitals in St. Louis.”
One of those new procedures is Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), cutting-edge technology for gastrointestinal conditions. Dr. Aslam, a board certified gastroenterologist who arrived in Alton last fall, completed extensive training in EUS, which combines endoscopy and ultrasound into one procedure, resulting in high quality images of internal organs.
“An endoscopic ultrasound is a small ultrasound transducer installed on the tip of the endoscope,” says Cindy Drainer, RN, Director of the GI Center. “When the scope is inserted into the upper or the lower digestive tract, more detailed images of various organs, like the pancreas and colon, are visible. Because of the proximity of the ultrasound next to the tissues, a mass is more easily detected and a biopsy can be performed.” The EUS also can obtain information about the layers of the intestinal wall, as well as adjacent areas such as lymph nodes and the blood vessels. Dr. Aslam will begin EUS this Spring.
While the current GI Center affords patients privacy before and after their GI procedures compared to other hospitals, plans are being developed to expand services.
“Architects are currently working on expansion plans for our GI Center to submit to the State for approval,” says Kuiper. “With the support of our experienced Mission Partners, we will expand the physical department and services to ensure our continued optimal clinical outcomes.”
Board certified gastroenterologists on the medical staff of Saint Anthony’s include: Mark Allendorph, M.D.; Naeem Aslam, M.D.; Ahmad Karadaghy, M.D.; Mark Klucka, D.O.; and David Riedel, M.D.
Dr. Klucka, a long-time area gastroenterologist, cites some common digestive conditions. “We see patients for a number of digestive issues, including heartburn, lactose intolerance, ulcers and colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease.”
He says the gold standard for colon cancer screening is the colonoscopy, a procedure that allows a physician to see the entire large bowel. “For persons with the average risk of getting colorectal cancer, colonoscopy screenings should begin at age 50.
“Unfortunately, in most cases, colon and rectum cancers develop slowly over a period of several years. Most begin as a polyp,” according to Dr. Klucka. Signs and symptoms of colorectal disease include weight loss, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, constipation and diarrhea. “If there’s a family history where a mother, father, brother or sister has had colon or rectal cancer, or polyps, screening should begin at an earlier age,” he advises.
According to the Illinois Department of Health, only 46.3 percent of Illinois adults aged 50 years and older reported having a fecal occult blood test in the previous year or a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy in the previous five years, compared to 52 percent nationwide (CDC Chronic Disease Indicators).
For information about Saint Anthony’s GI Center or colon cancer screenings, call 618-474-6270.