Welcome to The California Digestive Diseases Institute
The California Digestive Diseases Institute provides medical excellence in the care of pancreatic, liver and biliary diseases, utilizing state-of-the-art technology in the most efficient, cost-effective and compassionate manner.
What you can expect from The California Digestive Diseases Institute?
Expertise – Experience – Excellent Care
When is gallbladder removal unnecessary?
In many cases, you don't need open cholecystectomy to remove bile stones from the bile duct. Using the ERCP technique with sphincterotomy, we can eliminate such stones by inserting a fiber-optic tube down the patient's throat to the opening of the common bile duct. An electronic "hot wire" is then passed through the tube to make a tiny cut at the opening of the bile duct, allowing stones to pass into the small intestine. This means no external incisions or scars, and because the procedure is less invasive, patients can expect a quicker recovery time. Dr. Renner is proud to have a 97% bile stone clearance rate compared to the 61% success rate reported by the Department of Surgery at Tulane University. Our average hospital stay is 2.03 days versus 6 days reported by the Tulane study.
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Is there a minimally-invasive way to eliminate giant bile stones?
The California Digestive Diseases Institute is one of only a few centers in California with the necessary expertise to perform stone fragmentation. This minimally-invasive procedure combines ERCP with technology to break up giant stones in the common bile duct. The stone fragments are then flushed from the site or passed naturally from the body.
Non-Invasive Gallstone Treatment
At the California Digestive Diseases Institute, we've found that medication therapy, such as ursodeoxycholic acid (Actigall), may be a successful treatment option for some patients with gallstones.
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Is Traditional Gallbladder Surgery Ever Appropriate?
An open cholecystectomy may be indicated when laparoscopic cholecystectomy has failed. Open cholecystectomy removes the gallbladder by a large cut in the abdomen. By contrast, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally-invasive alternative that allows us to remove the gallbladder through three small incisions in the abdomen.
New Technology for Pancreatic and Bile Tumors
Utilizing a naso-biliary tube placed through the nose, we can now decrease or eliminate small pancreatic and bile duct tumors by high-density intraluminal radiation. This technique allows the x-rays to be concentrated into a very precise area. Pain, jaundice and infection can result when a tumor mass obstructs normal bile flow. Dr. Renner utilizes various metal wall stents to alleviate jaundice and restore proper flow of fluids. This new type of stent generally has a much smaller chance of obstruction than traditional plastic stents.
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Advanced Human Care on a Human Scale
When it comes to treating the liver, pancreas or biliary tree, experience counts. But at the California Digestive Diseases Institute, our patients can also count on a caring medical team who know how to listen. For more information on any of our services or to refer a patient, please call (310) 556-7747.
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A Tertiary Referral Center: Liver, pancreas and biliary tree diseases often require referrals in several different disciplines. That's why the California Digestive Diseases Institute provides access to a wide range of affiliated specialists in surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, anesthesiology and oncology. Our program specializes in treating the following conditions:
Choledocholithiasis
Giant Common Bile Duct Stones
Obstructive Jaundice (any cause)
Acute/Chronic Pancreatitis
Obstructive Jaundice Status Post Lap-choly
Sclerosing Cholangitis
Ascending Cholangitis
Primary Cancer of the Pancreas
Bile Duct Cancer/Cholangio-carcinoma
Hepatitis
Metastatic Liver Cancer
Primary Liver Cancer
Benign Biliary Strictures Status Post Lap-choly
Pancreatic Pseudocysts (Endoscopic Drainage)
Oriental Cholangio-hepatitis
Pancreatic Stones
Intrahepatic Stones
Metastatic Cancer of the Pancreas
The California Digestive Diseases Institute has gained international recognition for its excellence in treating liver, pancreas and biliary diseases. High-risk and failed first time bile stone treatment cases are often referred to us due to our skill and experience. Dr. Ian G. Renner M.D., F.R.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., has also treated many patients referred to him from the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
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A Pioneer In His Field
Dr. Renner was among the first few gastroenterologists in Southern California to treat pancreatic and biliary disorders with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography (ERCP). He also was one of the first in his field to treat pancreatic and bile duct stones with lasers. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Dr. Renner received his medical degree from the Otago University in New Zealand. After his internship at Wellington Public Hospital in New Zealand, he completed several residencies and fellowships in gastroenterology and hepatology in Australia, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States. With more than 100 publications to his credit, Dr. Renner is now a clinical professor at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.
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