Every Gastroenterology fellowship program is different. Some let first year fellows (FYF) do more advanced therapeutics and others limit to the basics. One of my favorite features about my GI fellowship program is the variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures we (as Fellows) are involved in. As a FYF, I expected to learn basic skills including diagnostic EGD and colonoscopy. I didn’t expect to be doing therapeutics this early on, but I am happy and feel blessed to be learning a myriad of techniques to help patients!
Since I am officially nine months into fellowship, here is a list of procedures I have personally performed through today (day of writing). I love this sub-specialty!
Upper GI Procedures
- Diagnostic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
- Diagnostic push enteroscopy (mid-gut evaluation)
- Endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL):
- Primary prophylaxis
- Active gastroesophageal variceal bleed hemostasis
- Therapeutic EGD:
- Epi injection
- Endoclipping
- Bi-Cap electrocautery with gold probe
- APC ablation
- WATS 3D brush biopsy (evaluating for Barrett esophagus)
- Naso-jejunal (NJ) feeding tube placement
- PEG tube placement
- Savary dilation of intrinsic stricture
- Balloon dilation of intrinsic stricture
Lower GI Procedures
- Screening colonoscopy
- Diagnostic colonoscopy
- Polypectomy < 10 mm lesions
- Lifting larger polyps (injection of Eleview)
- Ileoscopy
- Exams via colostomy
Photo: UMMS-Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA