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Gastroenterology

What is Gastroenterology?

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine that focuses on all the disorders of the digestive system. A digestive system consists of a GI tract ( gastrointestinal tract), which includes our small intestine, stomach, esophagus, large intestine, and other organs of digestion like gallbladder, liver, pancreas, etc. Some medical conditions that are a part of gastroenterology include gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, hepatitis, colon polyps cancer, etc.

What Conditions Do Gastroenterologists Treat?

Some of the common conditions that gastroenterologists treat include:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where the contents of the stomach start to move up into the esophagus. It becomes a serious issue when it causes frequent symptoms like difficulty in swallowing, coughing, sore throat, etc.
  • Peptic ulcer disease: A peptic ulcer is a condition that causes open sores in the inner lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers) and the part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). Some of the causes of peptic ulcers include prolonged use of NSAIDs ( nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to conditions that lead to chronic inflammation of the GI tract. It is a term that mainly refers to two conditions- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In Crohn's disease, inflammation can occur in any part of the GI tract. However, in ulcerative colitis, the inflammation mainly appears in the large intestine (colon) and the rectum.
  • Gallbladder and biliary tract diseases: These included conditions like gallstones, biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), gallbladder cancer, biliary atresia, bile duct obstructions, and many more.
  • Liver diseases: Gastroenterologists can also treat various liver conditions, including alagille syndrome, biliary atresia, cirrhosis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

What Are The Various Tests Performed By Gastroenterologists To Treat Gastroenterological Conditions?

  • Bravo PH study: It is a test that is used to determine whether the acid of the stomach is reaching the esophagus. If your healthcare expert thinks you are suffering from GERD, he/she might conduct this test to have an accurate diagnosis.
  • Endoscopy: Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure that helps doctors visualize and examine the digestive tract. In this procedure, the surgeon uses an instrument called an endoscope, which has a light and camera attached to it, to take pictures of the tract and view it on a color TV monitor. This helps the surgeon identify abnormalities, and perform surgery or tissue removal. Colonoscopy is a type of endoscopy.
  • Imaging tests: Different imaging tests like ultrasound, defecography, CT scan, oropharyngeal motility (swallowing) study, MRI, lower GI series, and X-ray can also be performed by gastroenterologists to examine the GI tract and nearby organs. These tests can help identify abnormalities or blockages in the digestive tract.
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): This test uses gastrointestinal endoscopy and x-rays to diagnose and treat problems related to the liver gallbladder, bile, and pancreatic ducts.
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy: In this test, the doctor uses an instrument called a sigmoidoscope to look inside and examine the rectum and lower colon. The sigmoidoscope has a light and camera attached to it which helps the healthcare provider to look for deformities like swollen tissue, polyps, and cancer.
  • Blood tests: Your healthcare provider may conduct various blood tests like blood count, liver function test, pancreatic enzyme test, etc. to diagnose certain gastrointestinal disorders like bacterial or parasitic infection, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, etc.

What Procedures Are Performed at Marengo Asia Hospitals To Provide Comprehensive Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Care?

At the Marengo Asia Digestive Health Institute, we offer world-class treatment and painless endoscopic procedures for complex gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases, including cancers. Our institute specializes in treating conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, biliary system, and pancreas. Some of the procedures performed at Marengo Asia Hospitals include:

  • Endoscopy Services: Endoscopy plays a very important role in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal problems. Through flexible tubes with light and camera at the tip, physicians are able to acquire internal views of the digestive tract through endoscopy. These procedures help in the diagnosis of many conditions, from ulcers and polyps to cancers, allowing the physician to make interventions such as biopsies and removing polyps in a minimally invasive manner.
  • Liver Disease Management: Liver disease management is that area of gastroenterology concerned particularly with the management of diseases related to the liver, including chronic conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver disease. Control strategies always incorporate a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and monitoring to prevent disease progression and manage symptoms effectively.
  • Novel Procedures: Novel procedures in gastroenterology represent new treatment techniques and technologies that have evolved in this field. These are often cutting-edge methods that involve new technologies or approaches that improve outcomes, reduce recovery times, and increase the accuracy of diagnoses and treatments. Such include advanced endoscopic techniques and new drug delivery systems.
  • Motility Lab and Advanced Motility Services: The Motility Lab and advanced motility services continue to form the keystone in the diagnosis and management of disorders dealing with movement and function in the gastrointestinal tract. These services involve specialized tests on the assessment of esophageal motility, gastric emptying, and colonic transit. Advanced motility testing in the lab leads to the diagnosis of conditions such as achalasia, gastroparesis, and irritable bowel syndrome, which finally enables treatment plans that are truly and uniquely individualized.
Gastroenterology

Novel Gastroenterological Procedures

Overview

Novel gastroenterological procedures are the newest and most accomplished ways of performing procedures in gastroenterology. These constitute innovative ways to better the diagnosis, treatment, and management of GI diseases. Most of the time, these involve state-of-the-art te...

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Liver Disease Management

Overview

Management of liver diseases basically comprises the complex processes of diagnosing, treating, and monitoring liver disease. The liver is an important part of carrying out several important functions, such as detoxification, synthesis of important proteins, and the productio...

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Motility Lab and Advanced Motility Services

Overview

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility means the movements of the digestive system—stomach and intestines—that are characteristic of the digested food, liquids, and wastes that pass through the GI tract. This motility is driven by the coordinated contraction and relaxation of smooth ...

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Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy

Overview

GI endoscopy is basically a diagnostic process where the interior of a gastrointestinal tract is visualized through an endoscope, which is a flexible, lighted tube. The instrument is introduced through the natural openings of the body, such as the mouth or rectum, having a ca...

Read More

Novel Gastroenterological Procedures

Overview

Novel gastroenterological procedures are the newest and most accomplished ways of performing procedures in gastroenterology. These constitute innovative ways to better the diagnosis, treatment, and management of GI diseases. Most of the time, these involve state-of-the-art technology, minimal invasion methods, and new therapeutic strategies that make them better than conventional techniques.
These may include new procedures in endoscopy, flexible tubes with cameras that aid in viewing the digestive tract, new ways of surgery that use smaller or no incisions, and new imaging techniques where resolution and real-time views of the GI allow for the earlier and more accurate detection of diseases like cancer.
Some of the new procedures put into place entail artificial intelligence techniques that help in the interpretation of images, identify abnormalities, and improve diagnosis speed and accuracy. Other innovations include techniques for treating diseases that were previously extremely difficult to manage, such as obesity, motility conditions, and complex tumors, through less invasive means. In general, new gastroenterological procedures focus on the very frontier of medicinal progress in gastroenterology by aiming at better recovery, faster post-surgical rehabilitation, and inherent safety and effectiveness in treating GI disorders.

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Liver Disease Management

Overview

Management of liver diseases basically comprises the complex processes of diagnosing, treating, and monitoring liver disease. The liver is an important part of carrying out several important functions, such as detoxification, synthesis of important proteins, and the production of biochemicals required for proper digestion. Liver diseases range from benign and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening. Hence, good management is needed for early diagnosis and effective management.
Management of liver disease within gastroenterology is the identification of cause, grading of severity, and implementation of focused interventions to prevent the disease's progression and ameliorate patient outcomes.

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Motility Lab and Advanced Motility Services

Overview

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility means the movements of the digestive system—stomach and intestines—that are characteristic of the digested food, liquids, and wastes that pass through the GI tract. This motility is driven by the coordinated contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles within the digestive walls. These are further regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is cranial for involuntary movements. The hormones' exposure, among other factors, also has some impact on digestive functions.
For instance, the peristaltic waves in the intestines are responsible for pushing food forward, while the mixing movements help in blending digestive enzymes with food to promote nutrient absorption. Proper gastrointestinal motility leads to the proper processing of food, absorption of its nutrients into the bloodstream, and eventual elimination of waste from the body. In disturbances of such motility, digestive disorders develop that alter health and the subsequent well-being.

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Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy

Overview

GI endoscopy is basically a diagnostic process where the interior of a gastrointestinal tract is visualized through an endoscope, which is a flexible, lighted tube. The instrument is introduced through the natural openings of the body, such as the mouth or rectum, having a camera attached to its tip. It helps a doctor to examine the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum. This technique is useful not only for making a diagnosis for a great number of gastrointestinal conditions but also therapeutically for polypectomy, biopsy, or bleeding lesion treatment. Considering that it allows direct visualization of the GI tract, endoscopy opens the window to an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.

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Our Expert Doctors
FAQ'S

It is advised to see or consult a gastroenterologist if you are experiencing any symptoms of a digestive health problem. Such symptoms may include bleeding, constipation, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, etc. Consulting a reliable gastroenterologist on time will help in the accurate diagnosis of the condition and fewer complications from the surgery conducted.

Some common gastrointestinal issues that require surgery include hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastrointestinal cancer, gallstones and gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, etc.

Some of the advantages of minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery include shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery, less postoperative pain, and fewer complications after surgery.

Yes, the gastroenterologists at Marengo Asia Hospitals are highly skilled, experienced, and board-certified in gastroenterology. They have extensive experience in performing high-end procedures and providing the best care to the patients.

Yes, gastroenterologists at Marengo Asia Hospitals hold a robust experience of 10+ years and are experienced and board-certified.

Yes, an international patient typically receives a cost estimate before their treatment. The treatment package includes the cost of the procedure, consultation amount of the doctor, and other additional services required by the patient.

The best way an international patient can schedule an appointment is by dialing the number available on the international patient's section of the website.

The international patient is expected to carry their medical records like diagnostic reports and the list of current medications. This will help our healthcare team plan the treatment journey.

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