Specialist – Gastroenterology
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Gastroenterology
Overview
Gastroenterology deals with the function and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the digestive system and their structures like the oesophagus, liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, small intestine and colon.
Gastroenterologists often work in association with other departments like Radiology,Pathology,Surgical gastroenterology and Oncology to provide a holistic care to the patients.
Purpose of visiting a Gastroenterologist:
A doctor from any other specialization may refer a patient directly to a gastroenterologist if they reckon that the problem lies with the digestive system and produces the symptoms in the patient.
The number of symptoms varies from one person to another and may include:
● Nausea
● Vomiting
● Diarrhoea
● Constipation
● Jaundice
● Difficulty in swallowing
● Stomach pain
The Gastroenterologist will use all their experience and knowledge to assess the person and recommend treatment and management if necessary.
Conditions treated by Gastroenterologist:
Gastroenterologists play a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a patient with conditions such as:
- Colon polyps
- Colon cancer
- Screening and treatment of GERD
- Celiac disease
- Acute and Chronic Hepatitis
- Fatty liver
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Screening and treatment of Barret’s oesophagus
- Gallbladder disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Pancreatitis
- Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
- H-pylori positive and H-pylori negative ulcer disease of stomach and duodenum
Procedures Performed:
Gastroenterologists carry out a wide range of procedures to diagnose, treat, and manage patients' conditions. These procedures comprise:
Endoscopy
During the process of endoscopy, a gastroenterologist uses a camera attached to an endoscope, which is a long, thin tube to inspect the internal contents of the patient's body.
An endoscope is inserted through the mouth, the throat, and finally into the oesophagus. It sends visual images back to a screen for monitoring and examination.
A Gastroenterologist might perform an endoscopy to diagnose and verify various symptoms like:
● Continuous heartburn
● Nausea and vomiting
● Bleeding
● Dysphagia
● Stomach ache
● Unexplained weight reduction
Procedure:
An upper endoscopy is generally an outpatient procedure and doesn't require admission. However, this procedure may be uncomfortable at times and a little painful. The patient will receive an intravenous sedative or another form of anaesthesia. Someone should drive and accompany the patient back home after completing the procedure.
The patient is positioned by making him lie down on the left side during the entire procedure, which takes around half an hour. Then, the doctor performs the following activities:
● Administration of a numbing spray to the throat and insertion of a mouthguard to protect the teeth.
● Guides the endoscope through the oral cavity and down into the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum region.
● Pumps air via the endoscope into the stomach and duodenum region to make it comfortable to examine the internal organs.
● Depicts images obtained from the endoscope on a large video monitor while looking for various problems or possible treatments.
● If necessary, remove small pieces of tissue for biopsy (examine in a lab).
● Performs treatments if needed.
Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy
These procedures are very similar to endoscopy, except that it requires the Gastroenterologist to place the tube into the rectum instead of the oral cavity.
A gastroenterologist can visualize the whole colon and rectum during a colonoscopy procedure. However, a sigmoidoscopy only allows them to examine specific parts of the rectum and lower colon region.
Capsule endoscopy : This procedure is carried out to identify problems in the small intestine . The patient is made to swallow a tiny video capsule that transmits pictures of the insides of the digestive tract. This procedure reveals causes of bleeding and ulcers caused by Crohn’s disease, among other things.
Complications:
Overall, endoscopy is very safe; however, the procedure does have a few potential complications, which may include:
● Perforation (tear in the gut wall)
● Reaction to sedation
● Infection
● Bleeding
● Pancreatitis
Recovery:
Once the patient is discharged and brought back home, they are bound to experience some mild symptoms after the endoscopy procedure, like:
● Bloating and gas
● Cramps
● Sore throat and irritation
These all signs and symptoms gradually improve with time. However, if they persist over time, it is recommended to call the doctor.
