Gastro

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders. Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which include the organs from mouth into anus, along the alimentary canal, are the focus of this specialty.

Overview

Physicians practicing in this field are called gastroenterologists. They have usually completed about eight years of pre-medical and medical education, a year-long internship (if this is not a part of the residency), three years of an internal medicine residency, and two to three years in the gastroenterology fellowship.

Diseases and conditions

Gastroenterologists must be able to treat a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Gastritis
• Stomach cancer
• Gallstones
• Pancreatitis
• Celiac Disease
• Crohn's Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Hemorrhoids
• Colon cancer
• Hepatitis
• Cirrhosis

Procedures

Gastroenterologists perform a number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including:

• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Liver biopsy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Double balloon enteroscopy

Training

Gastroenterology is a recognized subspecialty within internal medicine. Gastroenterology trainees will also learn about the wide range of endoscopy procedures. Gastroenterology does not include the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract. For instance, adult gastroenterology includes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract that affect adults.

See also

• List of gastroenterology and hepatology conditions
• List of gastroenterology and hepatology medications

Gastro Resources
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