Penn Highlands DuBois Uses Safer New Scope for GI Cases

Penn Highlands DuBois has reached another milestone in care! Richard F. Latuska, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist, and his team at Penn Highlands Healthcare have performed more than 100 procedures on the bile ducts of the liver and pancreas using the EXALT duodenoscope. The one-use, disposable device is designed for greater patient safety when screening for cancer and gallstones.

“The use of this scope is safer for patients because it mitigates the risk of post-procedure infection,” said Dr. Latuska.

The new scope also promotes greater efficiency. While the duration of the procedure may vary from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the complexity of the cases, the new device reduces the amount of down-time between procedures since cleaning and sterilization are not necessary.

“In addition to being safer for patients, the new scopes are better for the environment because their manufacturer reclaims and recycles them,” said Dr. Latuska.

Dr. Latuska and his team see patients and perform procedures related to the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and colon in their office and in the adjacent Endoscopy Center located in the DuBois Community Medical Building – 621 S. Main Street in DuBois.

For more information about gastrointestinal care, visit www.phhealthcare.org/gi or call 814-371-0600.