Gastroenterology is the study of the normal function and diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. It involves a detailed understanding of the normal action (physiology) of the gastrointestinal organs including the movement of material through the stomach and intestine (motility), the digestion and absorption of nutrients into the body, removal of waste from the system, and the function of the liver as a digestive organ. It includes common and important conditions such as colon polyps and cancer, hepatitis, gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), peptic ulcer disease, colitis, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, nutritional problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and pancreatitis. In essence, all normal activity and disease of the digestive organs is part of the study of Gastroenterology.
While the gastroenterologists at BS Hospital perform a range of nonsurgical procedures, common ones include:
– Examining the upper and lower GI tract and other internal organs with endoscopic ultrasounds
– Colonoscopies to identify colon cancer or colon polyps
– Liver biopsies to examine inflammation and fibrosis
– Sigmoidoscopies to evaluate blood loss or pain in the bowel
– Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to detect tumours, gallstones, or scar tissue in the bile duct area
– Double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy to examine the small intestine
