Digestive Sysyem
The digestive system consists of the gastrointestinal tract, also called the GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine as well as the accessory organs of digestion which include the pancreas, gallbladder, and liver.The digestive system functions to move material through the GI tract via peristalsis, break down that material via digestion, absorb nutrients for use throughout the body, and remove waste from the body via defecation.
Why are gastroenterologists important?
Gastroenterologists are stomach doctors and they use a variety of tests to diagnose gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and conditions ,including minimally invasive ways to look at the inside of your esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The gastroenterologist treats digestive system issues: as diseases that affect the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, liver, intestines, colon, and rectum, whereas the hepatologists treat the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and bile ducts.Some of the most common conditions managed by gastroenterologists include gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, hepatitis, pancreatitis, colitis, colon polyps and cancer, nutritional problems, and many more.
What are gastroenterology test?
The gastroenterologist may send you for X-rays, a CT scan, or blood tests. They may give you a stool test to check how well your body absorbs and uses fat. They may also test how food moves through your digestive system. It may also involve certain procedures that give the Gastroenterologist a clearer picture.
Gastroenterology Procedures
Endoscopy
An Endoscopy is a test that uses a scope to look inside your esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestines called the duodenum. Some of the reasons this test is done: nausea or vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, pain in the stomach or abdomen, bleeding, ulcers, etc.
Colonoscopy
A procedure using a long thin tube with a camera that is passed through the anus to visualize the rectum and the entire length of the colon. The procedure is performed either to look for colon polyps and/or colon cancer in somebody without symptoms, referred to as screening, or to further evaluate symptoms including rectal bleeding, dark tarry stools, change in bowel habits or stool consistency (diarrhea, pencil-thin stool), abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
A procedure using a long thin tube with a camera that is passed through the mouth to view the esophagus, stomach, and the duodenum. It is also referred to as upper endoscopy or just endoscopy. The procedure is performed for further evaluation of symptoms including persistent heartburn, indigestion, vomiting blood, dark tarry stools, persistent nausea and vomiting, pain, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, and unexplained weight loss. The procedure can be used to diagnose many disorders through direct visualization or tissue biopsy including esophageal varices, esophageal strictures, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, cancer, celiac disease, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and a H. pylori infection.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
A procedure using a long thin tube with a camera passed through the mouth into the first part of the small intestine to locate, diagnose, and treat disorders related to the bile and pancreatic ducts. These ducts carry fluids that help with digesting food from the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas and can become narrowed or blocked as a result of gallstones, infection, inflammation, pancreatic pseudo cysts, and tumors of the bile ducts or pancreas.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
An Endoscopic Ultrasound Procedure is used by gastroenterologists that combine regular endoscopy with ultrasound to obtain images of the internal organs of the GI system. A small, flexible tube with a camera is placed through the mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach and small intestine. If any abnormalities are observed, your physician may take a sample of tissue, called a biopsy, for analysis.
GI Disorders
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) A condition that is a result of stomach contents consistently coming back up into the esophagus causing symptoms or complications. Symptoms include a painful feeling in the middle of the chest and feeling stomach contents coming back up into the mouth, heartburn, etc. Other symptoms include chest pain, nausea, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, coughing, and hoarseness.
Barrett’s esophagus: A condition in which the lining of the esophagus changes to look more like the lining of the intestine and increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer. Risk factors include chronic GERD for more than 5 years, being age 50 or older, having a family history of this disorder, belly fat, and a history of smoking.
Celiac disease: Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder where the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten. Ingestion of gluten causes the immune system of the body to attack the small intestine, leading to damage to the villi of the small intestine, which are small fingerlike projections that promote nutrient absorption. Celiac disease can start at any age and symptoms include bloating, changes in bowel habits (either diarrhea or constipation), rashes, weight loss, and a poor growth rate in children.
Constipation: Constipation is the term used to describe difficulty or infrequency in passing stools (faeces). There are many different causes of constipation, such as dehydration, a lack of fiber in the diet, pregnancy, inactivity, or certain medications.
Crohn’s Disease: Crohn’s disease is a chronic bowel disease that causes patches of inflammation in the GI tract anywhere between the mouth and the anus, although the area where the small intestine joins the large intestine is most commonly affected. Symptoms may include diarrhea that persists for several weeks, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Around 50% of people with Crohn’s disease notice blood or mucus in their feces and some may report an urgent need to move their bowels or a sensation of incomplete evacuation.
Diarrhea: Symptoms of diarrhea include frequent, loose, watery stools (feces) which are usually accompanied by an urgent need to go to the toilet. Abdominal pain or cramping may also occur, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Viruses are a common cause of diarrhea.
Hemorrhoids and Anal Fissures: Hemorrhoids occur when the anal cushions (which are small areas of vein-containing tissues that seal the anal opening, preventing incontinence) become enlarged and swollen. They can occur either externally or internally and both types typically bleed when a bowel motion is passed. Occasionally they may prolapse (“pop”) out of the rectum following a bowel motion, which can be quite painful.
Anal fissures are small tears in the thin tissue that lines the anus. They are common in infants and often occur when passing large bowel motions. Laxatives and improving the fiber content of the diet can make it easier to pass stools and prevent anal fissures from developing.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Abdominal discomfort associated with altered bowel habits. Symptoms are also similar to countless other conditions, such as endometriosis, giardia, food allergies, or inflammatory bowel disease, and most of these conditions need to be excluded before a diagnosis of IBS can be made. Treatment depends on what type of IBS a person has (i.e., either constipation or diarrhea-predominant) and usually includes medication and dietary changes.