Location: Piedmont Hospital GI Lab
Report to Hospital GI Lab on __________________at ____________am/pm
Instructions
Click for Printable Directions
Park in the “North” parking deck. Take the elevator to the bridge level BR). Sign will say “Bridge to Hospital”. Get off at the “bridge” level; Walk over the glassed in covered bridge. Turn right and then left. Look for sign to GI Lab. Check in at the window when you enter the GI Lab. You will be registered there.
You may continue to take Celebrex and Vioxx up until your procedure.
Please Read!!! 10 days prior to procedure
Unless you were instructed by your physician to continue antacid medication, Stop taking Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, and Zantac, Pepcid, Tagamet or Axid 48 hours prior to your study. You may take and antacid like Tums, Maalox, and Gaviscon, Mylanta or Rolaids up until midnight the night before your procedure.
Also 10 prior to procedure
Stop taking Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, and Aleve or arthritis medications 10 days prior.
Stop taking Vitamin E one week prior to the procedure.
***If you are on Coumadin you must get your doctor’s permission to stop the drug. ***
5 days prior
Stop taking Plavix.
Procedure day
You may take your blood pressure medication with a sip of water on the day of your procedure.
Procedure preparation
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure. If your procedure is after noon, you may have 8 oz of clear liquid before 8 am then nothing by mouth.
You must have someone to drive you home after the procedure or it will not be performed. You may not take a taxi by yourself or ride the bus. You may have a friend or family member pick you up at the 95 building pick up area. If you give us a phone number when you are being admitted, we will be happy to speak with the person driving you home and call them and arrange a time to meet them.
If you have any questions or need to cancel, please call 404-355-3200
PLEASE GIVE US AT LEAST 48 HOURS IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Wear comfortable clothes to the procedure.
- Bring your insurance cards with you.
- Bring a list of your medications.
- Leave your car keys and parking ticket with your driver. If you have any special needs please notify the staff prior to your procedure (pacemaker, internal defibrillator, latex allergy, need interpreter).
If you have any questions regarding insurance or precertification, please call our Business Office at 404-603-3543.
Please Note:
When you receive your statement from this procedure, there will be an invoice for the doctor’s fee, an invoice for the endoscopy center (supplies and nursing care), anesthesia invoice for Propofol and you may receive a separate bill from the Pathology laboratory if biopsies are obtained.
If you have any questions regarding insurance or pre-certification, please call our billing office at 404-603-3543.
**If your insurance does not cover this procedure and you have been notified that there is a deductible or Coinsurance that you need to pay, please bring a credit card (VISA, MC or AMEX only) or a check.
Bravo Ph Monitoring
The Bravo 48-hour pH test is being recommended by your physician as a tool in the diagnosis of Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
During the Bravo pH procedure, a catheter containing a probe about the size of a Tylenol gel cap will be placed in the esophagus (the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach). This will be placed either through the nose or directly into the mouth, depending on the recommendation from the physician. Using a small amount of suction, the probe will be attached to the inside of the esophagus. This procedure is simple, safe, and very well tolerated. The Probe transmits esophageal pH data (or acid in the esophagus) using radio frequency to a small pager size receiver that is worn by the patient for 48 hours. After this time the receiver will automatically stop recording information. The receiver is then uploaded into the computer, and analysis by both the computer and physician allows a detailed report to be devised for diagnosis. Several days after the study, the probe naturally sloughs off the esophagus and passes through the digestive tract.
Compared to the traditional pH test, the Bravo pH System provides greater patient comfort and convenience. Patients are able to maintain their regular diet. There are no visible tubes. Since there are no external tubes, throat and nasal discomfort are virtually eliminated.
