b'F rom top to bottom, your intestinal tract measures between 10 and 16 feet. This crucial expanse is responsible for digestion, absorbing nutrients and water and delivering them to the rest of your body so you can function at your best.But a lot can go wrong across those 16 feet, too. Gastroenteritis, ulcers, obstructions, Crohns disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and colorectal cancer are just a few.For May*, a spunky 87-year-old, ongoing abdominal and rectal pain was severely diminishing her quality of life. Her physician discovered a large rectal polyp that had become so heavy, it was protruding from her body and had to be removed. May was referred to Dr. Andrew Kassir, an HonorHealth colorectal surgeon for colorectal surgery.At her age, open surgery carried increased risks, andCENTER FOR INTERVENTIONAL Dr. Kassir believed May would benefit from endoscopicENDOSCOPY IS HEADED FOR A resection rather than a surgical resection which wouldNew Homealso result in reliance upon a colostomy bag for the rest of her life. An endoscopic procedure is less invasive and associated with lower patient risk than open surgery. With a 17 percent increase in patient Dr. Kassir referred May to Dr. Amar Thosani, a GI specialistvolume over the last year, the demand for at the HonorHealth Center for Interventional Endoscopy,interventional endoscopy is growing rapidly.who performed a rectal endoscopic ultrasound to rule outThe Centers quality was recently early cancer. Fortunately, Mays polyp was not cancerous,recognized as well. The HonorHealth but it did need to be removed to provide her relief.Scottsdale Shea Medical Center received Dr. Thosani chose his colleague, Dr. Cris Pitea, whosethe silver-level Beacon Award for extensive experience performing endoscopic submucosalExcellence from the American Association dissection, made him the right choice for Mays procedure. of Critical Care Nurses. This represents Just two months following the original diagnosis, Dr. Piteaan incredible honor, as this is the first performed Mays endoscopic resection. This was no simpleinpatient endoscopy department in the procedure. Due to the location and sheer size of the polyp, itcountry to receive this recognition.took 10 hours to remove it and repair the surrounding region. In 2025, the HonorHealth Center for May has had a great outcome, with no immediate orInterventional Endoscopy will relocate to long-term complications, notes Dr. Pitea. Certainly, herthe Virginia G. Piper Outpatient Surgery experience would have been very different if she pursuedbuilding, co-locating all physicians, traditional surgery rather than the less invasive endoscopictechnology and patient services on the procedure. second floor.Creating this world-class center requires An intervention of this complexity can only be performedthe support of our community. If you are in a few centers across the country and only by highlyinterested in making a gift or learning trained, skilled and experienced endoscopists. more about the Center for Interventional But the greatest joy, for both physician and patient, is thatEndoscopy, please contact the Foundation May, now 91, has recovered well, avoided having to use aat 480-587-5000 or Foundation@colostomy bag and has had no recurrence of her condition. HonorHealth.com*name changed to protect patient confidentiality. HonorHealth Foundation Magazine 17'