Gastroenterology Unit

The Gastro Institute of the Holy Family Hospital has been providing quality service to the residents of the North for over 25 years.

In recent years, the institute underwent a fundamental change 4 years ago when it was moved to a new large and spacious department, very convenient for patients and attendants. Recently, the hospital management also purchased some of the newest endoscopic equipment in the world.

What is special about the institute:

The institute employs 15 expert gastroenterologists, among the best in the field, 25 qualified nurses and assistants, and an available and courteous clerical system.

The institute provides service seven days a week in two shifts - morning and evening, in three operating rooms simultaneously, making it possible to set appointments that are among the shortest in Israel, if not the shortest ones.

The process of cleaning and storing the endoscope, after use, is conducted under strict conditions according to the procedures of the Ministry of Health and JCI, which is very important in maintaining and preventing the transmission of infections to patients.

The services that the Unit provides:

Gastroscopy and colonoscopy with biopsies, resection, and marking of lesions.

Insertion of a feeding tube into the stomach for special patients - for example, patients after a stroke

Replacing the feed tube as needed

EUS endoscopy ultrasound examination - intended for examination of the gallbladder, biliary tract, and pancreas. During the procedure, it is possible to diagnose and take a sample from lesions for histology and cytology. The test is performed by a gastroenterologist.

The vision of the Unit

To make the services provided in the field of gastroenterology accessible to the residents of the area and thus save them trips to distant hospitals.

New services introduced in the last two years:

1. Excision of complex lesions from the digestive system, which is known as EMR:

Removal of polyps that are defined as complex due to their size, shape, or location, requires a special method to remove them. It is done by gastroenterologists who are specialized in this method.

It should be noted that these patients previously had to undergo surgical excision of the lesions, which involves general anesthesia and surgery.

2. Endoscopic examination under anesthesia:

The department of anesthesiology uses high-quality drugs that induce good sedation so that the patient goes through the test without feeling discomfort or pain. It is important to emphasize that the patient is constantly monitored on the vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen concentration in the blood).

Patients with complex underlying diseases, such as chronic diseases or heart failure, should be given sedation for endoscopy by anesthesiologists.

The institute provides endoscopic services in the presence of an anesthesiologist for such patients.

3. Surgical oncology clinic:

Patients who are diagnosed with cancerous tumors in the digestive tract are asked to arrive at the clinic (which does not involve a financial charge) for a consultation, even before receiving the biopsy answer. Surgeons, oncologists, and gastroenterologists participate in the consultation meeting and discuss with the patient and his family the diagnosis and the therapeutic possibilities, and potential additional tests to assess the progress of the disease - CT / MRI. These tests can be done in our hospital within a very short time.

4. Tutoring medical students:

The hospital is affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine in Safed, therefore groups of medical students from the Faculty of Safed come to the institute every year for training in gastroenterology.

We are about to introduce the ERCP test, a unique therapeutic procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. The gallbladder stones, for example, can be removed with this technique.