Our interventional gastrointestinal endoscopy service offers comprehensive and innovative care for gastrointestinal conditions, ranging from basic diagnostic exams to the most complex procedures.
We are the only private facility in the canton of Geneva to offer the full range of these advanced procedures, providing patients with access to minimally invasive, precise, and safe treatments, regardless of their insurance status (basic, semi-private, private, or international insurance).
Our goal is to provide the least invasive care possible, under optimal safety conditions, without compromising cancer detection or resorting to overtreatment.
Complex procedures are generally discussed in advance by our multidisciplinary team: specialized gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, radiologists, and intensive care units work together to ensure safety, comfort, and personalized care. A tailored treatment strategy is developed to suit each patient.
The techniques offered include:
- Basic examinations: esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and video capsule endoscopy
- Advanced procedures:
- Pancreatobiliary: including echoendoscopy, ERCP and cholangioscopy, pancreatic radiofrequency ablation, and endoscopic ampullectomy
- Luminal procedures: including submucosal dissection, management of fistulas and strictures, gastrostomies and gastrojejunostomy extensions, endoscopic gastroenterostomy, endoscopic myotomies for achalasia or pylorospasm (POEM/G-POEM), endoscopic revision of gastric bypass (TORe), Zenker’s diverticulotomy
- Other: mediastinal and pelvic punctures, internal drainage
On-call duties in gastroenterology and interventional endoscopy
La Tour Hospital has a gastroenterology on-call service provided by its six specialists. In addition, CIEL is establishing a dedicated interventional endoscopy on-call service, led by Dr. Pierre Guibert and Dr. En-Ling Leung Ki, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week starting in January 2026 to manage urgent, semi-urgent, and complex gastrointestinal conditions.
To request this on-call service outside of business hours, please contact the emergency physician at Hôpital de La Tour (+41 22 719 63 97), who can assist with your care and, if necessary, refer you to the on-call gastroenterologist.
Esophagogastroduodenal Endoscopy (EGDE)
Examination of the Esophagus, Stomach, and Duodenum
An upper endoscopy allows for direct visualization of the upper digestive tract and enables intervention if necessary—for example, to stop bleeding or perform biopsies.
Benefits of EGDE
- Accurate and rapid diagnosis
- Ability to treat certain lesions immediately
- Minimally invasive procedure with a quick recovery
Main Indications
- Reflux, persistent pain, or heartburn
- Screening for precancerous or cancerous lesions
- Unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding or anemia
- Monitoring of chronic gastric conditions
Colonoscopy
Examination of the Colon and Rectum
Used to screen for colorectal cancer, detect and remove polyps, investigate chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, and diagnose various types of colitis (ischemic, infectious, diverticular)
Benefits
- Combined diagnosis and treatment
- Polyp removal without surgery
- Quick recovery
Main Indications
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Persistent bleeding or diarrhea
- Monitoring of IBD
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
Complete resection of tumor lesions in a single piece (no fragmentation).
Allows for the complete removal of superficial lesions in the esophagus, stomach, colon, or rectum without open surgery.
Benefits
- Complete resection of precancerous lesions
- Accurate histological follow-up
- Minimally invasive procedure, rapid recovery
Main Indications
- Precancerous or superficial cancerous lesions
- Large polyps or those that are difficult to resect
- Patients who are not candidates for surgery
nterventional Echoendoscopy (IEE)
Diagnosis and treatment of hard-to-reach lesions.
Combines ultrasound and endoscopy to aspirate, drain, or treat deep masses and the biliary-pancreatic system. For example, endoscopic ultrasound-guided (EEI) procedures allow for complex biliary drainage, such as:
- Hepatogastrostomy: a direct internal biliary shunt between the liver and the stomach, used in cases of biliary obstruction inaccessible to conventional ERCP.
- Choledochoduodenostomy: a biliary shunt between the common bile duct and the duodenum.
These procedures offer a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, with precise control guided by endoscopic ultrasound.
Benefits
- Precise access to deep lesions
- Avoids surgery in many cases
- Combined diagnosis and treatment
- Rapid recovery and optimal safety
Main Indications
- Pancreatic, lymph node, mediastinal, hepatic, or pelvic masses requiring aspiration or drainage
- Complex biliary obstruction not accessible via ERCP
- Targeted biopsies of submucosal or deep lesions
Radiofrequency Ablation of the Biliary Tract and Pancreas Under Endoscopic Ultrasound Guidance
Targeted treatment of benign or low-grade malignant tumors
Applies localized heat to treat neuroendocrine or cystic tumors of the pancreas when surgery is not indicated.
Benefits
- Local treatment without surgery
- Reduction in functional symptoms
- Minimally invasive, guided procedure
Main Indications
- Benign or precancerous tumors of the bile ducts or pancreas, and endocrine tumors
- Cystic lesions at risk of degeneration
- Management of endocrine symptoms
ERCP / cholangioscopy
Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract and Pancreatic Disorders
Enables the removal of stones from the common bile duct, the treatment of strictures, and direct visualization of the biliary tract.
Benefits
- Minimally invasive treatment of stones and strictures, particularly those caused by tumors
- Accurate diagnosis using direct visualization via cholangioscopy
- Avoids surgery
Main Indications
- Gallstone Removal
- Biliary Strictures
- Monitoring and Diagnosis of the Biliary Tract
Endoscopic ampullectomy
Resection of Lesions in the Ampulla of Vater
This procedure allows for the removal of polyps and benign or precancerous lesions from the ampulla, thereby avoiding surgery.
Benefits
- Complete resection
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Quick recovery
Main Indications
- Ampullary polyps or adenomas
- Benign or precancerous lesions
Management of Gastrointestinal Fistulas and Stenoses
Reopening and Bypassing of the Digestive Tract
This procedure restores the digestive tract in cases of strictures or fistulas by placing esophageal, duodenal, or colonic stents. It may also include combined endoscopically guided procedures, depending on the complexity of the lesion.
Benefits
- Rapid restoration of the digestive tract
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Often avoids surgery
- Simplified post-procedure monitoring
Main Indications
- Symptomatic gastrointestinal or biliary fistulas
- Esophageal, duodenal, or colonic strictures
- Patients at high surgical risk
Gastrostomies and gastrojejunostomy extensions
Nutritional Support and Direct Therapeutic Administration
The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEG) and gastrojejunostomy extensions provides direct nutritional support in cases of gastric intolerance or gastrointestinal obstruction, or for the administration of specific treatments, particularly in Parkinson’s disease.
Placement is performed using either the “pull” or “push” technique, with the insertion of either tubes or small gastrostomy buttons.
Benefits
- Effective and safe nutritional support
- Direct administration of specific treatments
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Simplified monitoring and follow-up
Main Indications
- Gastric intolerance or gastrointestinal obstruction
- Need for long-term enteral nutrition
- Administration of targeted therapies
Endoscopic Gastroenteric Anastomosis (LAMS)
Creation of minimally invasive bypasses in the digestive tract, between the stomach and the intestine
Luminal apposition stent (LAMS) gastroenterostomy allows for the bypassing of a digestive obstruction, restoring normal passage and avoiding surgery.
Benefits
- Avoids open surgery
- Rapid restoration of the digestive tract
- Targeted, minimally invasive procedure
Main Indications
- Gastric or duodenal obstruction
- Need for a minimally invasive gastrointestinal bypass
- Complex situations requiring rapid and safe access
POEM / G-POEM
Benefits
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Significant reduction in symptoms
- Quick recovery
Main Indications
- Esophageal achalasia (POEM)
- Pyloric dysfunction or gastroparesis (G-POEM)
Bariatric Endoscopy: TORe (Transoral Outlet Reduction)
A multidisciplinary approach is central to the management of obesity. Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques allow for internal suturing to reduce the size of the stomach (endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) or the size of the anastomosis following gastric bypass surgery.
The TORe technique is currently offered at La Tour Hospital
Endoscopic reduction of the gastrojejunal anastomosis
Reduces the diameter of the anastomosis after gastric bypass surgery to correct weight regain or dumping syndrome.
Benefits
- Avoids major surgery
- Restores the original restriction
- Minimally invasive procedure
Main Indications
- Weight regain after gastric bypass
- Dumping syndrome
Endoscopic Diverticulotomy for Zenker's Diverticula
Endoscopic Sectioning of the Esophageal Septum
This procedure is used to treat symptomatic Zenker’s diverticula—which cause dysphagia, regurgitation, or chronic cough—by endoscopically sectioning the spastic cricopharyngeal muscle that forms the septum between the diverticulum and the esophagus.
Benefits
- Minimally invasive procedure
- Rapid restoration of swallowing function
- Avoids open surgery
Main Indications
- Symptomatic Zenker's diverticulum
- Persistent dysphagia and regurgitation