Motility Center

  

Welcome to the JH GI Motility Clinic. We receive many patient referrals from throughout the United States and from all across the world. Each of our patients are unique but typically have GI Motility Disorders that include pain after eating, dysphagia (trouble swallowing), abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, unexplained pancreatitis, constipation, fecal incontinence, unexplained weight loss, or have complications following obesity surgery.

  • Thomas L. Abell, M.D., Medical Director
  • Benjamin Rogers, M.D., Gastroenterology
  • Abigail M. Stocker, M.D., Gastroenterology
  • Lindsay McElmurray, PA, Physician Assistant

Appointments and Office Consultations

Initial office visits are scheduled upon referral from another gastroenterologist or physician requesting a motility evaluation. Prior to being scheduled for a visit to the GI Motility Clinic, we will request copies of your medical records be sent to our office. After review of the records, an appointment will be scheduled.

Diagnostic Services that may be ordered as part of the patient evaluation:

  • Gastric Emptying Test (radionuclide solid and liquid gastric emptying)

The test involves eating a bland meal—such as eggs or an egg substitute—that contains a small amount of radioactive material. The test is performed in a radiology center or hospital by a specially trained technician and interpreted by a radiologist; anesthesia is not needed. An external camera scans the abdomen to show where the radioactive material is located. The radiologist is then able to measure the rate of gastric emptying at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after the meal. If more than 10 percent of the meal is still in the stomach at 4 hours, the diagnosis of gastroparesis is confirmed.

  • Esophageal motility with high resolution and impedance
  • Esophageal pH including ambulatory impedance pH
  • Hydrogen Breath testing

With this test, the patient eats a meal containing a small amount of radioactive material. Breath samples are taken over a period of several hours to measure the amount of radioactive material in the exhaled breath. The results allow the health care provider to calculate how fast the stomach is emptying.

  • Anorectal Manometry

Anorectal manometry is an outpatient procedure that examines the muscular function of your rectum and anus. This diagnostic test measures contractility in the anus and rectum and provides information to evaluate the cause and determine the correct treatment of fecal incontinence or constipation. The procedure lasts about 20-30 minutes. A thin flexible catheter with a small uninflated balloon at the tip is passed through the anus and into the rectum. The catheter is slowly withdrawn while numerous pressure measurements are recorded.

  • Cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG)

Electrogastrography (EGG) is a diagnostic test that records electrical activity of the stomach. Recordings can be made from three different areas, including one from the skins surface. This test is easily performed and requires the placement of sensors on the skin to detect electrical signals indicative of muscular activity of the stomach. The electrogastrogram detects the wave-like contractions of the stomach.

  • Mucosal and Serosal electrograms
  • Smart Pill

The SmartPill is a small electronic device in capsule form. The device is swallowed and moves through the entire digestive tract, sending information to a cell-phone-sized receiver worn around the person’s waist or neck. The recorded information provides a detailed record of how quickly food travels through each part of the digestive tract.

  • Full thickness biopsy evaluation
  • Autonomic nervous system evaluation (ACEM)
  • Gastric Electrical Stimulation

In most cases, the diagnostic process for patients referred to us includes an evaluation to determine whether a patient may be a candidate for Gastric Electrical Stimulation. Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES) is a treatment for chronic nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis of diabetic, surgically related or unknown cause. GES uses a stimulator, a medical device called Enterra, that is placed inside the body, similar to a cardiac pacemaker. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Enterra therapy as a Humanitarian Use Device. The Enterra device is indicated for the treatment of patients with long lasting, unmanageable, nausea and vomiting from gastroparesis. These devices are typically placed in patients on a temporary basis through an endoscopic procedure to determine their effectiveness for each patient. Should the temporary device be shown to benefit the patient, the device can be implanted in a more permanent manner. The temporary procedure is performed by Dr. Abell in the endoscopy suite on an outpatient basis. The permanent implant is performed by Dr. Michael Hughes either on an outpatient or inpatient basis.

  • Other GI Motility Services

Pelvic Floor retraining for constipation and incontinence

  • Endoscopic Procedures

Endoscopic procedures are performed in the endoscopy center at Jewish Hospital. The procedure will be scheduled by the GI Motility Clinic team to best accommodate your schedule.

  • Hospital Inpatient Services

Our group provides comprehensive inpatient gastroenterology consultative services at Jewish Hospital.

 

 

Useful Links

 

The JH GI Motility Clinic Team

Thomas Abell, MD

Professor of Medicine
Arthur M Schoen MD Chair in Gastroenterology
University of Louisville
Thomas.abell@louisville.edu

Medical Director
Jewish Hospital GI Motility Clinic
Phone: 502-588-7690
Fax 502-540-1413

Abigail Stocker, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine
University of Louisville

Gastroenterologist
Jewish Hospital GI Motility Clinic
Phone: 502-588-7690
Fax: 502-540-1413

Lindsay McElmurray, PA-C

Physician Assistant
Jewish Hospital GI Motility Clinic
Phone: 502-588-7690
Fax: 502-540-1413

  • Tiff Howell, RN, BSN

  • Mary Zamora, M.A.

  • Karen Beatty, Research Nurse

  • Rhonna Howard, Research Assistant

Contact Us

 

Jewish Hospital / U of Louisville GI Motility Clinic
220 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-588-7690
Fax: 502-540-1413

Patient (non-urgent matters) email: gidivision@hotmail.com

All office visits are by appointment only.

Office hours are 9AM to 5PM Monday to Friday. The office observes traditional holidays including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.