What is Gastroenterology?
It’s all too common to complain regarding stomach aching and other symptoms such as loss of appetite, massive weight loss, flushing, diarrhea and even blood in the stool from months and then for months we ignore it, until it becomes intolerable. Then we go to the ER and get diagnosed with stomach cancer after several tests. Timely treatment could have prevented this condition from becoming life threatening.
Basically gastroenterology is a study and medical practice of the regular functioning of small intestines, stomach, esophagus, colon, pancreas and rectum, gallbladder, liver and bile ducts and diseases.

What does the study say?
The proper action of the gastrointestinal organs along with the movement of food through the large and small intestines must be understood fully.
- Digestion and uptake in the body of nutrients are also included.
- The removal of waste products from the body and function of the liver as a digestive organ is studied and tested by gastroenterologists.
- Conditions such as colon polyps are detected by gastroesophageal reflux or heartburn.
Types of Gastroenterology Diseases
Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that deals with digestive system’s diseases. There are some most common diseases which comes under Gastroenterology such as:
- Colon cancer
- Constipation
- Acid reflux
- Diarrhea
- Liver cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Hemorrhoids
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Gas
- Crohn’s diseases
- Lactose intolerance
When to Visit a Gastroenterologist?
One should make a visit to our gastroenterologist if he is facing following issues such as :
- Hernia
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding or inflammation in digestive tract
- Difficulty to swallow
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Gallbladder issues
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Liver problems
- Ulcers
- Undefined weight loss
- Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux
Diagnosis of Gastroenterology Disease
There are multiple ways available to perform gastroenterology disease diagnosis. The digestive tract consists of all the organs from the mouth to the anus. The origin of the problem can be anywhere inside the body, and hence doctors have to diagnose the problem.
- GI endoscopy is used to test the esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine.
- Colonoscopy is used to examine the large intestine (colon) .
- Enteroscopy is used in finding internal depth in the small intestine.
- infrared coagulation therapy (IRC) is used to detect Non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids.
- Sigmoidoscopy is used for testing the last portion of the colon and the rectum.
- Stomach ache is detected by Abdomen X-rays.
- Blood tests are also a standard procedure for detection.
- Liver biopsies are used for diagnosing liver cirrhosis.
You can consult Digestive Disease Specialists from themedicaltrip. Here our gastroenterologist will help you diagnose your problem early and treat it the right way for optimal health and disease prevention.
Complications
The complication rate is only about 1 in 1000 persons and that include:
- Aspiration, causing aspiration pneumonia
- Bleeding
- Perforation
- Cardiopulmonary problems
When used in infants, the esophagogastroduodenoscopy can squeeze the trachealis muscle which results in narrowing of the trachea. Therefore this can result in reduced airflow in the lungs. Infants may be intubated so that their trachea is fixed open.
Limitations
Sometimes endoscopy is not able to detect problems of gastrointestinal function. Motion or secretion of the gastrointestinal tract are not easily diagnosed by EGD. Findings such excess fluid or poor motion of the gut during endoscopy can lead in the disorders of function. Syndrome like Irritable bowel and functional dyspepsia are not easily diagnosed with EGD. But EGD can be helpful in excluding other diseases that lead to these common disorders.