Gastrointestinal diseases are very common in our modern, hectic times. Inflammatory bowel diseases, intolerances, liver diseases and, last but not least, bowel cancer have been on the rise for years. A poor diet often promotes such diseases.
astroenterologists are specialists in the field of the gastrointestinal tract and are therefore the best people to talk to about gastroenterological diseases.
Gastroenterology is a branch of internal medicine. As such, it deals with the gastrointestinal tract and its appendages (e.g. pancreas, liver). One of the most important tasks of gastroenterologists is the diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the digestive tract. The most important diagnostic tools used in gastroenterology are ultrasound and gastroscopy or colonoscopy (endoscopy).
Gastroenterology specialists primarily diagnose and treat chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, cancers of the digestive organs (e.g. bowel cancer, stomach cancer) and gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis).
Gastroenterologists also deal with
The main tool used in gastroenterology is ultrasound and enteroscopy of the digestive organs. Gastroenterology clinics offer gastroscopy or colonoscopy, among other things.
During a gastroscopy, the upper part of the digestive tract is examined using an endoscope @ bilderzwerg/AdobeStock
A colonoscopy is also a recommended screening test for bowel cancer and should be carried out regularly from middle age onwards. In addition to these technical procedures, the gastroenterologist also offers laboratory tests and functional examinations . Probably the best-known laboratory test in gastroenterology is the stool test for occult (hidden) blood ("blood in the stool") in colorectal cancer screening.
Doctors of gastroenterology or internists have various treatment methods to choose from. On the one hand, these internal medicine doctors can use effective medication , for example to treat inflammation of the liver, hepatitis C or kidney stones. Hepatitis C in particular was long considered difficult to treat, as the therapy had very severe side effects and many patients had to discontinue it prematurely as a result. Since 2014, however, modern drugs have been available that have fewer side effects and lead to a complete cure of hepatitis C in the majority of cases - a great success for gastroenterology.
On the other hand, gastroenterologists carry out endoscopy operations to remove growths (known as polyps). Gastroenterologists also provide support for cancer treatment. Internists, radiologists and tumor specialists (oncologists) work closely together within the Clinic for Gastroenterology.
The prospective specialist in internal medicine with a focus on gastroenterology begins a 6-year training period after completing their medical studies . The examination and treatment procedures that every future specialist in gastroenterology must be able to perform are laid down in defined training regulations.
In order to be able to meet this high standard, prospective specialists in internal medicine must also demonstrate their skills in practice. At the end of the training period, the future internist specializing in gastroenterology is tested in an oral examination. There, they must prove that they have mastered the necessary knowledge, experience and skills required for the specialization in gastroenterology and can apply them effectively.
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