Lindsay K. Hessler, M.D., is a Board Certified surgeon specializing in minimally invasive surgery, including advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Mercy’s team of breast surgeons and breast cancer specialists in Baltimore help women determine the best breast cancer treatment options available to them.
Named one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery and Spine Surgery, Mercy Medical Center is home to The Maryland Spine Center.
Mercy offers emergency care on the Downtown Baltimore campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (410-332-9477) with access to a trained emergency medicine team, diagnostic services and consultations with specialists.
In case of an Emergency, Dial 911 and follow the instructions of the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) team.
Mercy Medical Center's downtown campus includes our Main Hospital - The Mary Catherine Bunting Center, McAuley Plaza and The Weinberg Center.
General visiting hours at Mercy are 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. Hours vary by floor, please check with the nursing staff or call 410-332-9555.
This 3D animation describes colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, procedures used to view the mucosal lining of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
The doctors of The Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy specialize in diseases of the colon. To help diagnose colon diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis, as well as colon polyps and hemorrhoids, our doctors may perform a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are performed in our state-of-the-art, dedicated endoscopy suite.
A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure during which the colon and rectum are examined from the inside. A colonoscopy helps to find ulcers and tumors so they can be removed. In addition, a colorectal cancer screening can be conducted using a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is performed with a thin tube, called a colonoscope, which has a light and camera at its tip. The colonoscope is inserted into the anus and guided through the colon. As the colonoscopy takes place, the camera transmits images of the inside of the colon to a monitor. During the colonoscopy, tissue samples can be collected for a biopsy and abnormal tissue growth, such as colon polyps, can be removed.
The American Cancer Society now recommends most people begin regular colon cancer screenings at age 45. Please check with your insurance company on coverage for initial screening age.
A colonoscopy is one of several tools to assist with colon cancer screening.
Your doctor may recommend screening at an earlier age if:
A colonoscopy, which takes approximately 30–60 minutes, generally is tolerated with minimal discomfort and can be a life-saving diagnostic tool.
Mercy offers direct access colonoscopies. You can quickly and easily schedule a colonoscopy at Mercy's Downtown campus, in our state-of-the-art endoscopic suite.
Please call 410-332-9356 and select option 3 and then option 1. Most patients do not need to schedule an office visit prior to a colonoscopy.
You will need to schedule an office visit prior to your colonoscopy if any of the following apply to you:
A colonoscopy may not be recommended for certain patients. Please call your doctor to determine the best screening options if you have:
After feeling ill on New Years Eve, Barbara had a screening that revealed a cancerous tumor in her colon.
Dr. Matilda Hagan, a dedicated IBD specialist, serves as Medical Co-Director of The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Mercy.
A patient of a team of Mercy doctors shares his struggle with achalasia, a condition that makes swallowing difficult.