(CHARLOTTE, NC)- Atul Khanna, M.D., and Raj Dalsania, M.D., of Charlotte Gastro, completed the EDGE procedure at Novant Presbyterian Hospital.

The EDGE procedure involves placing a stent to connect the patient’s gastric pouch to the excluded stomach. Through this connected passageway, endoscopists can diagnose tumors, remove gallstones, and relieve any obstructions in the bile or pancreatic duct.

Atul Khanna, M.D., of Charlotte Gastro’s advanced endoscopist team, states, “The patient presented to the emergency room with symptoms of abdominal pain and had a history of gastric bypass. They also had a history of the removal of the gallbladder. Blood work showed abnormal liver function tests and imaging studies obtained showed a large stone blocking the bile duct.”

“The procedure initially was performed in multiple stages but with the availability of larger size stent, and with newer techniques, it can now be performed in one stage,” says Atul Khanna, M.D., advanced endoscopist with Charlotte Gastro.

“The recovery is the similar to other endoscopic procedures. Patients usually go back to their daily routine the next day. So, there is minimal recovery time and no surgery required,” Raj Dalsania, M.D., advanced endoscopist at Charlotte Gastro said. “By offering the EDGE procedure, we are able to treat these conditions while significantly reducing in-patient stays, with many patients going home the same day.”

Charlotte Gastro is an independent gastroenterology practice that specializes in adult gastroenterology, gastrointestinal endoscopy, ERCP, and liver disease and comprehensively detects and treats diseases that affect the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, biliary system, pancreas, small and large intestines, and rectum.

Currently, Charlotte Gastro’s doctors were the first to perform the EDGE procedure at Novant in the Charlotte region.