GASTROENTEROLOGY

Definition

Gastroenterology (or gastrology) is a wide and specialized field of medicine concerned with the digestive system. Gastroenterologists study, diagnose, treat, and manage conditions of the stomach, intestines, esophagus, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Gastroenterologists are qualified with a medical school degree and a four to six year residency.

What do Gastroenterologists do?

Doctors of gastroenterology do not perform surgery to treat diseases, but they may be board certified to perform biopsies and endoscopic examinations. Gastroenterologists use endoscopy, utrasound, blood and bodily fluids tests, and surgery to make a diagnosis. It is often possible to treat patients during endoscopy where necessary, by using the endoscope (a long, flexible tube inserted through the mouth into various digestive regions) to insert tools for removing stones and growths, destroying cysts, inserting a stent, injecting cancer medications, or inserting a nerve block.
Frequently, a Gastroenterologist is called in cases when the diagnosis is unclear or where specialized diagnostic procedures are necessary.

Main procedures

A Gastroenterologist treats a broad range of conditions, including, but not limited to:

• Abdominal Pain
• Abnormal Xray findings
• Colon Cancer
• Colon Polyps
• Colon Screening Exams
• Constipation
• Crohn's Disease
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty Swallowing
• Diverticulosis
• Esophageal Reflux
• Gastritis
• GERD
• Heartburn
• Hemorrhoids • Hepatitis
• Hiatal Hernia
• Indigestion
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Jaundice
• Liver Disease
• Malabsorption
• Nausea Diarrhea
• Post-OperativeColon Tests
• Rectal Bleeding
• Spastic Colon
• Ulcers
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Vomiting