Gastroenterology Department
Gastroenterologists are doctors who investigate, diagnose, treat and prevent all gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) and hepatological (liver, gallbladder, biliary tree and pancreas) diseases.
Gastroenterologists treat conditions such as:
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- gastrointestinal cancer
- anaemia – a condition where the haemoglobin the blood (a pigment that carries oxygen) is below normal levels
- inflammatory bowel disease, eg Crohn’s disease (inflammation of the lining of the digestive system), ulcerative colitis (inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the rectum and colon)
- short bowel syndrome
- jaundice – a condition where the skin yellows due to an accumulation of bilirubin the blood and tissues
- management of alcoholic, viral hepatitis (Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus) and autoimmune liver disorders (where the body attacks its own cells)
- diverticulitis – inflammation of the diverticula (small pouches) in the intestine
- gastroenteritis
- hepatitis
Common procedures/interventions
These include:
- diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy
- intestinal and liver biopsy
- paracentesis(puncture of the wall of a cavity using a hollow needle)
- planning and aftercare of patients undergoing liver transplant
Esophagogastrodoudenoscopy
Outpatient diagnostic and interventional gastroscopy include
- Biopsies and other diagnostic procetures for histopathology and cytology
- Control of bleeding
– esophageal variecis ligation (EVL)
– Injection sclerotherapy
– Hemo clips
Percutanose Endoscopic Gastrostomy
Colonoscopy
- Outpatient diagnostic and intervention
- Biopsies and diagnostic procedures
- Control of bleeding such as vascular Ectesia
- Polypectomy
Ultrasound Guided Liver biopsies
