What is Gastroenterology ?
Gastroenterology is primarily concerned with the digestive diseases. It focuses on the treatment of diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract involving stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, esophagus, large intestine and small intestine. A Gastroenterologist properly diagnoses and treats the diseases of the digestive system.
- Abdominal Pain
- Blood in the stool
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or Acid Reflux
The organs affected by gastrointestinal system
- Bowel and colon cancers
- Biliary tract disease
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Gastric cancers
- Colon polyps
- Esophageal cancers
- Cancer and gall bladder stones
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Malabsorption and nutritional problems
- Gastroesophageal Reflux
Types of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Different types of gastrointestinal surgery can treat the following conditions that can improve quality of life of for many patients. Some of these conditions include –
- Mediastinal masses
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR)
- Paraesophageal hernias, hiatal hernias and ventral hernias
- Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) or severe heartburn
- GIST and other stomach tumors
- Esophageal disease
- Anorectal disease including rectal prolapse, incontinence
- Gallbladder disease
- Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Enterocutaneous fistula and short bowel syndrome
The extent and type of GI (Gastrointestinal Surgery) largely depend upon the location and the size of the cancer. Gastrointestinal surgery could be the only treatment and can also be performed along with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Gallbladder Cancer : Surgery is used for treating the early stages of gallbladder cancers.
Stomach Cancer : Gastrectomy is the procedure by which the stomach cancer is treated. Partial gastrectomy is used for removing a part of the stomach. The remaining part of the stomach is connected with esophagus to the small intestine.
Liver Cancer : Hepatectomy is the surgical procedure for removing the parts of liver. 80% of the liver can be removed if the rest liver tissue is healthy. The left part of the liver helps in proper functioning of the liver.
Pancreatic Cancer : Whipple procedure is used for treating pancreatic cancer in order to remove the first part of the small intestine, head of the pancreas, part of the stomach and the bile duct. The tail and body of the spleen and the pancreas can be removed with the help of a distal pancreatectomy procedure.
Esophageal Cancer : A part or the entire esophagus can be removed with the help of esophagectomy procedure. This is done for treating the esophageal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer : The removal of the rectum or a segment of the colon and the 2 remaining ends are reconnected for the purpose of treating the colorectal cancer. The colostomy is the rare procedure by which a new path is created for taking out the waste products. An opening is made in the abdomen for connecting the opening with the intestine. A bag is then fitted in the opening in order to collect the waste.
Gastroenterology Diseases and Treatments
Diseases of the Small Intestine
- Obscure bleeding and Diverticulosis
- Mal Absorption Syndrome
Diseases of the Duodenum and Stomach
- Fungal Infections
Diseases of the Gall Bladder
- Cancer of the Bladder
- Stone diseases
Diseases of the Colon
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Cancer and Diverticulosis
Diseases of the Pancreas
- Pseudo Pancreatic Cyst
- Pancreas Cancer
- Chronic Pancreatitis
- Acute Pancreatitis
Diseases of the Esophagus
- Achalasia Cardia
- Variceal Bleeding
- Foreign body removal
- Malignant and benign strictures
Diseases of the Liver
- Acute Hepatitis
- Amoebic Abscess
- Chronic Hepatitis
- Liver Cancer
Capsule Endoscopy (Inpatients)
It is a procedure where the patient has to swallow a vitamin-sized capsule which contains a tiny wireless camera. This helps in getting pictures of your digestive tract for medical diagnosis.
Colonoscopy (Full Length)
Colonoscopy is a medical test to examine the abnormalities and changes in the large intestine and rectum. The doctor will do so by inserting a long, flexible tube into the rectum with an attached tiny video camera to it. This help in viewing the inside of the entire colon for better diagnosis.
Endoscopy (UGI Endoscopy)
It is a test done to examine any part of the upper digestive system or UGI (upper gastrointestinal tract including the small intestine, stomach, esophagus, and mouth). The same is done by inserting a long, flexible pipe through the mouth for diagnosis and treatment.
Endoscopy Pseudocyst Drainage
Pancreatic pseudocysts are cysts on the pancreas which appear as fluid-filled sacs that cause trauma or pancreatitis. The procedure followed is where an endoscopic ultrasound is inserted in the GI tract, just a little close to the pancreas in order to drain the cysts.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a technique to examine the problems in the gall bladder, pancreatic ducts, and the bile. It uses both endoscopy and fluoroscopy.
It is a procedure in which a pipe is inserted in the esophagus (throat) to open the blocked area. Basically, it is done to help swallow fluids and solids and is a part of the treatment for peptic esophageal strictures, esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistula, etc.
It is a procedure to view the inside of the rectum and lower colon also known as sigmoid colon and descending colon for any cancers, polyps or ulcers. The same is done with the help of a small tube with a camera and light also called sigmoidoscope.
It is a surgical operation for the removal of tumors from the pancreas. The procedure involves the removal of the head of the pancreas, gall bladder and the first part of the small intestine and part of the bile duct. After the surgery, the organs are reconnected for the patient to digest food normally.