Gastroenterology - Solutions the study of disease

Gastroenterology is the study of diseases affecting the digestive system and this system. More specifically, specialists in the field study diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This route from the mouth to the anus includes organs such as the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, liver, small intestine, and colon. Patients with diseases such as cholera, appendicitis and liver failure may be referred to a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment.

Historically, physicians have been studying gastroenterology since the 18th century when it was discovered that the stomach contains gastric juice which helps indigestion. Since then, the field has improved using many standard procedures and tools to prevent, treat, and diagnose everything from bad gas cases to gallstones, or even hepatitis.

Patients experiencing chronic abdominal pain or frequent nausea may see a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy, one of the most common procedures to help diagnose gastrointestinal disease. Although this routine, outpatient procedure is not technically surgical, endoscopy requires some pre-surgical preparations. 

A long, thin, flexible tube with a light source and a camera at the end is placed inside the mouth and slowly guided down the esophagus and through the GI tract. In this way, the specialist can obtain a clear, unobstructed view of the gastrointestinal tract of patients. Patients may expect extreme restlessness, and meals should not be taken 8 hours before the examination. In addition to giving the physician a closer look at the GI tract to help diagnose certain problems, the endoscope can remove foreign objects or polyps, take tissue samples, and treat bleeding.

If there are further problems in the tract, a similar procedure called colonoscopy can be performed. The procedure is more invasive and painful, so a specialist may first perform a fecal occult blood test to determine if there is blood hidden in the patient's stool. A positive result will require a colonoscopy, in which the doctor places an endoscope into the anal cavity to give a view of the colon, rectum, and lower GI tract. It can successfully diagnose diseases like colon cancer, Crohn's disease, or hemorrhoids. 

Preparation for colonoscopy requires one to three days of a high-fiber diet in addition to laxative treatment and/or whole bowel irrigation. Like endoscopy, colonoscopy requires sedation because it is considered more painful than the latter. Proper diagnosis of the disease requires both ends of the GI tract as they are more accurate than X-rays.

For patients seeking less invasive examination of their gastrointestinal tract to determine the cause of pain or discomfort, the specialist may insert barium into the patient's GI tract, which provides contraindications when performing X-rays. Barium swallow involves drinking a barium sulfate solution that provides a coating to visualize the esophagus and stomach while X-rays track its passage. This test can be used to detect ulcers, tumors, narrow esophagus or hernias. Barium enema works similarly for the lower passage. For this test, the doctor inserts a tube inside the anal cavity to fill it with barium solution. 

The rectum should be clear and the patient may need to take a laxative to empty the bowel before the procedure. Barium enema can be used to determine or detect altered bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or the cause of an irregular bowel contour.

It is very important to keep the gastrointestinal tract free from diseases and obstructions. The system provides transportation of valuable nutrients and waste management. 

Choosing invasive, or non-invasive means to diagnose gastrointestinal tract problems, a gastroenterologist can guide patients through the process of diagnosis and treatment to improve their quality of life. learn more visit  Gastro doctor in Ahmedabad