Endoscopy

Welcome to the Valley View Endoscopy Center

Valley View’s new Endoscopy Center is one of the largest colonoscopy providers in Oklahoma and provides unsurpassed care, amenities, and technology to serve you and your family.

The new Endoscopy Center contains a special endoscopy family waiting room, a prep area that has space for multiple patients, a sterilization room, and two over flow waiting areas for patients that must wait after their procedure for further tests. There are five physicians at Valley View who perform endoscopic procedures; the new center will have two procedure rooms with the staff and equipment to potentially carry out two procedures at once. The recovery area is complete with two bathrooms and the capability to recover four patients at a time. Over $300,000 worth of new equipment has been purchased for the center and all nurses and aides have received special certifications appropriate for endoscopic procedures.

“The new Endoscopy Center will allow for more specialized care for our endoscopy patients,” says Gina Stafford, Nurse Manager of the Valley View Surgery Center, “It will also open up more space in the Surgery Center for more complicated procedures.”

Last year over 7,000 surgical procedures were performed at the Valley View Surgery Center, and approximately 1,500 of those procedures were endoscopic procedures, such as colonoscopies. This astounding growth in endoscopic procedures can be attributed to many factors, one being the increased awareness of the dangers of colorectal cancer, and two being the number of  “Baby Boomers” who are reaching the recommended age for colorectal screenings.

Colorectal Cancer: Early Detection is Key

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the nation. This type of cancer often does not display symptoms until it is far advanced and too late to make a recovery. But this type of cancer is also one of the most easily prevented and treated if caught in its early stages. The exact cause of most colorectal cancers is not yet known. However, research has established that approximately 75% of colorectal cancers occur in people with no known risk factors. The only way to detect this cancer at an early stage is by regular colorectal screenings.                                                    

Regular colorectal cancer screenings are recommended for both men and women over the age of fifty. If your family has a history of colorectal cancer then you should begin screenings by age forty. Colorectal cancer usually develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screenings can detect colon polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screenings can also detect the cancer when it is in its earliest stages when treatment is most effective and the chance for full recovery is high.

There are many options for colorectal screenings. Scientific data do not currently suggest that there is a single "best test" for any one person. Each test has advantages and disadvantages. Patients and their doctors are encouraged to discuss the benefits and potential risks associated with each screening option as they decide which test to use and how often the patient should be tested.

For more information about these services, please e-mail valleyview@vvrh.com.