Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is a specialized area of medicine that focuses mainly on the health of the gastrointestinal tract or the digestive system, including the complete study of the normal functioning and disease of the gastrointestinal system. When we experience a digestive issue, it can easily affect our quality and enjoyment of life. If you are suffering from a digestive ailment or condition, the physicians and staff at Saint Camillus Medical Center wish to provide you with the timely treatment you need to feel better as soon as possible. We can carefully assess your condition through adequate testing procedures.

This medical specialty involves a detailed understanding of the physiology of the gastrointestinal system. This includes the movement of food through the stomach, the absorption and digestion of nutrients for use by the body, the function of the liver as an essential digestive organ and the removal of waste by the system.

These gastrointestinal disorders may affect the small intestine, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, liver, large intestine or pancreas.

Areas of specialization in the field of gastroenterology include:

• Pancreatic disease
• Gastrointestinal cancer
• Hepatology (it focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the biliary tree, liver, gallbladder and pancreas)
• Reflux esophagitis (this commonly results from gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Transplantation
• Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract or inflammatory bowel disease
• Endoscopic surveillance

What is a Gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterologists are specialists that primarily diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases in patients (both men and women). They often perform endoscopic procedures that involve the use of specialized instruments or scopes which areare used to view and observe the gastrointestinal tract in order to make a diagnosis.

The Gastrointestinal System

The gastrointestinal system is one of the most critical parts of the body. The gastrointestinal system digests and moves food, absorb nutrients from it and finally removes the remaining waste from the body. Gastroenterologists are trained to treat any part of this system. Parts of the gastrointestinal system that the gastroenterologist are trained to treat includes the following:

• Gallbladder
• Liver
• Esophagus
• Small intestine and large intestine
• Pancreas
• Stomach
• Rectum
• Tongue
• Anus
• Pharynx
• Epiglottis

Our gastroenterologists can help you with a wide range of conditions, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Abdominal Pain and Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Colitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD
• Gastrointestinal Malignancies
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Chrohn’s Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis
• Pancreatitis
• Ulcers

Gastroenterology Procedures and Treatments

Gastroenterology employs a range of nonsurgical endoscopic procedures. Some of the procedures performed include:

• Colonoscopy – this procedure helps to detect colon polyps or colon cancer
• Sigmoidoscopies – done to assess pain or blood loss in the bowel
• Endoscopic ultrasounds – used to examine the lower and upper gastrointestinal tract. Can also be used to inspect other internal organs
• Capsule Endoscopies and double Ballon enteroscopies – for examining the small intestine
• Liver biopsies – done to evaluate the level of inflammation and fibrosis
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography – used to identify tumors, gallstones, or scar tissue that might exist in the bile duct environment