The Team
Rabinder Bhogal, MD.
Dr. Rabinder graduated from Christian Medical College. He completed his residency and Fellowship at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn New York. Rabinder has raised his family here in Bakersfield since 1985.
Harpal Bhaika, MD.
Dr. Harpal graduated from Government Medical College. He completed his residency and his fellowship at St. Joseph Hospital, in Chicago. Harpal has raised his family here in Bakersfield since 1984. In his leisure Dr. Bhaika likes to play golf and vacation. His favorite pass time is spending weekends with his loving family and close friends.
Tabassum Chowdhury, MD
Dr. Tabassum Chowdhury graduated from Al-Fateh University in 1987 and she completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinic, Columbia Missouri and completed her fellowship at the University of Missouri in 1996. Dr. Chowdhury specializes in Gastroenterology. Her primary focus is in preventive and treatment of digestive disease, including Inflammatory bowel disease, hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders. Dr. Tabassum Chowdhury raised her family here in Bakersfield since 1996.
Robin Matuk, MD.
Dr. Robin Matuk completed his undergraduate training at the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Matuk attended The Chicago Medical School where he received his Medical doctorate and a Masters in Pathology. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Cedars- Sinai Medical Center and his Fellowship training in Gastroenterology at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Matuk specializes in all areas of general Gastroenterology including Inflammatory bowel disease, Hepatology and Pancreaticobiliary disorders. Dr. Matuk is also fellowship trained in advanced procedures including Endoscopic Ultrasound and ERCP. Dr. Matuk is a native of Bakersfield having attending Bakersfield High School.
Ishaan Kalha, MD
Dr. Ishaan Kalha graduated from The Medical College of St. Batholomew's Hopsital West Smithfield London. He completed his residency at Kern Medical Center and his fellowship at University of Houston MD Anderson. Ishaan returned to Bakersfield to raise his family.
Neil S. Bhogal, MD.
Dr. Neil Bhogal is a native of Bakersfield, CA. He attended Garces Memorial High School and received his Bachelor of Science at the University of California, Riverside. He obtained his Medical Degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, graduating magna cum laude. He went on to complete his Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology Fellowship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he served as chief gastroenterology fellow. He acquired additional training in advanced therapeutic endoscopy at Geisinger Medical Center. He received numerous mentorship and teaching awards throughout his training. He also enjoys research and has published extensively. He has special interests in therapeutic endoscopy, pancreaticobiliary disorders, and evidence-based medicine. He is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Bhogal is thrilled to return to his hometown and serve the community. Dr. Bhogal will be joining Kern Gastroenterology Medical Group on late July 2022.
Truxtun Surgery Center
Truxtun Surgery Center was established in 1995. They are located at 4260 Truxtun Ave, Suite 120 in Bakersfield, CA 93309. 661-327-3636. Truxtun Surgery Center is gold star awarded JCAHO certified facility.
Procedures
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a common test that allows your physician to look inside your entire large intestine, from the rectum to lower end of the small intestine. This procedure is used to detect possible ulcers, colon polyps, tumors and areas of inflammation or bleeding as well as to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. A colonoscopy can catch early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum, making it an extremely important screening procedure.
This procedure can last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. Prior to the procedure, sedation will be administered to minimize discomfort.
- During the colonoscopy, your physician will insert a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope into the rectum and slowly guide it through the colon.
- A small video camera is attached to the colonoscope, which transmits images of the inside of your colon onto a monitor, allowing the physician to carefully examine the lining of the colon.
- Air may be inserted through the colonoscope, which opens the folds of the colon for better visibility.
- If anything unusual is found in the colon, such as a polyp or inflamed tissue, a biopsy will be performed to remove a small piece of the affected tissue, which is sent to the lab for testing.
Upper Endoscopy
Upper Endoscopy is a procedure used to visually examine the upper digestive system (esophagus, stomach and duodenum). The procedure can help determine the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion and abdominal or chest pain. Upper endoscopy is often referred to as EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. You should plan to be with us until you are fully awake and taking fluids, two hours maximum.
- Prior to the procedure, sedation will be administered to minimize discomfort.
- During the endoscopy, you will swallow a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera attached, called an endoscope.
- Once the procedure is underway, the physician uses an endoscope to transmit an image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to a nearby monitor.
- Air is inserted into the stomach through the scope, allowing for a thorough examination of the stomach folds and lining.
If anything unusual is found during the exam, such as an ulcer or inflamed tissue, a biopsy will be performed to remove a small piece of the affected tissue, which will be sent to the lab for testing.
ERCP
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that diagnoses problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas. ERCP may be used to discover the causes for jaundice, upper abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss. ERCP combines the use of x-ray and an endoscope (a long, flexible, lighted tube) through which the physician can see the inside of the stomach, duodenum and ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas.
During the procedure, you will be asked to lie on your left side on an examining table in an x-ray room. Medication to help numb the back of the throat, as well as a sedative will be administered to help you relax during the exam.
- You will swallow the endoscope.
- The physician will guide the endoscope through your esophagus, stomach and duodenum until it reaches the area where the ducts of the biliary tree and pancreas open into the duodenum.
- You will be turned to lie flat on your stomach and the physician will pass a small plastic tube through the endoscope to inject a dye into the ducts.
- A radiographer will begin taking x-rays as soon as the dye is injected.
If the exam shows a gallstone or narrowing of the ducts, the physician can insert instruments into the endoscope to remove or work around the obstruction. Also, a biopsy (collection of tissue samples) may be conducted if further testing is deemed necessary. This procedure takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
EUS
EUS is a relatively new diagnostic tool that is utilized to detect cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas and rectum. It can also evaluate chronic pancreatitis, study bile duct abnormalities, the muscles of the lower rectum and detect nodules (bumps) in the intestinal wall.
In EUS, a small ultrasound transducer is installed on the tip of the endoscope. The endoscope is then inserted into the upper or lower digestive tract to obtain high quality ultrasound images of the organs inside the body. Because of the proximity of the EUS transducer to the organ(s) of interest, the images obtained are frequently more accurate and more detailed than the ones obtained by traditional ultrasound.
Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule Endoscopy examines the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract and helps your physician evaluate the small intestine. This part of the bowel cannot be reached by traditional upper endoscopy or by colonoscopy. The most common reason for doing capsule endoscopy is to search for a cause of bleeding from the small intestine.
A sensor device will be applied to your abdomen with adhesive sleeves (similar to tape). The pill-sized capsule endoscope is swallowed and passes naturally through your digestive tract while transmitting video images to a data recorder worn on your belt for approximately 8 hours. At the end of the procedure, you will return to the office and the data recorder is removed so that images of your small bowel can be put on a computer screen for physician review. Most patients consider the test comfortable. The capsule endoscope is about the size of a large pill. After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not be near an MRI device or scheduled for an MRI examination.
Fibro Scan
Examination with FibroScan, also called transient elastography, is a non-invasive way to measure the stiffness of the liver. Fibroscan works by emitting a small pulse of energy, which may feel as a slight vibration on your skin. Fibroscan calculates the speed of this energy to give your healthcare provider an immediate measure of the stiffness of your liver. The stiffness measure can be an important part of understanding your overall liver health.