Gastroenterologists: What you need to know

Gastroenterologists treat a variety of gut-related diseases and provide care. These conditions include chronic conditions such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

What is gastroenterology?

If a person has a problem with their digestive system, they may see a gastroenterologist.

best gastroenterologist London can be considered a subspecialty within internal medicine.

It refers to the study of diseases and functions of the digestive tract and digestive system.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, gastroenterology involves a detailed understanding of:

The gastrointestinal organs

The movement of material through stomach and intestines

The digestion and absorption nutrients

The removal of body waste

The liver

What is a gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes on diseases and conditions affecting the digestive organs or structures, is called a gastroenterologist.

These parts include:

Esophagus or food pipe

Stomach

Small intestine

Colon

rectum

pancreas

gallbladder

bile ducts

liver

To become a gastroenterologist, a doctor must complete a 3-year internal medicine residency after medical school. After completing this residency, doctors will undergo 2-3 years of intensive, specialized training known as a fellowship.

Gastroenterologists are often able to work with other healthcare professionals once they have become certified to provide care for a broad range of patients.

The following are some of the possible partners for a gastroenterologist:

Hepatologists are specialists in liver diseases.

radiologists, who specialize in imaging

oncologists, who specialize in cancer

Why would a person get a referral to a gastroenterologist?

Sometimes, doctors may need to refer patients to specialists.

If a doctor suspects that the individual is suffering from a problem in their digestive system, they may refer them to a gastroenterologist.

These issues may present in a variety of ways, but some common symptoms include:

difficulty swallowing

stomach pain

nausea and vomiting

heartburn

diarrhea

constipation

jaundice

A gastroenterologist will assess the patient and, if necessary, recommend treatment or management.

What conditions can gastroenterologists treat in

Gastroenterologists are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and managing people suffering from conditions like:

colon polyps

colon cancer

celiac disease

GERD)

gallbladder disease

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Pancreatitis

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What are their procedures?

Many procedures are performed by gastroenterologists to diagnose, treat and manage various conditions.

Endoscopy

During an endoscopy, a gastroenterologist uses a camera that attaches to a long, thin tube called an endoscope to look inside the body.

The endoscope is inserted through the mouth, into the throat and into the esophagus. The screen displays the images and allows for monitoring.

To examine symptoms like:

Persistent heartburn

nausea and vomiting

Bleeding

Problems with swallowing

stomach pain

Unexplained weight loss

Colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy

These procedures are very similar to endoscopy but require that the gastroenterologist insert the tube into your rectum.

A gastroenterologist can see the entire colon and rectum during a colonoscopy. They can only examine the lower and rectum with a sigmoidoscopy.

These procedures might include the following:

Early signs of colon and rectum cancer

Causes of changes in bowel habits

There are many causes for symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and unexplained weight gain.

Polypectomy

During a polypectomy, a gastroenterologist will remove one or more polyps from the lining of the bowel.

Non-cancerous growths, polyps can form on the colon. They are very common, affecting 30%Trusted Source of those over the age of 50 years in the United States.

The colonoscopy will determine if the polyps are to be removed with wire loop forceps, or with an electric current.

Esophageal dilation

A gastroenterologist will open a small area of the esophagus during esophageal dilation.