Digestive System

Gastroenterologists are specialists in the field of digestive health, focusing on the comprehensive management of disorders related to the digestive system, which encompasses the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, liver, biliary tract, and pancreas. They are equipped to address a broad spectrum of symptoms, including but not limited to nausea, vomiting, dysphagia (difficulty and painful swallowing), heartburn, abdominal fullness, discomfort or pain, appetite loss, unintentional weight loss, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, altered bowel habits, tenesmus, and gastrointestinal bleeding. These symptoms may suggest underlying organic conditions or functional issues necessitating a tailored clinical approach. This approach typically incorporates thorough patient history assessments, detailed physical examinations, relevant diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound, CT scans, or MRIs, and potentially endoscopic evaluations.

In addition to their expertise in general gastroenterology, these professionals also serve as hepatologists, managing disorders of the liver, biliary tract, gallbladder, and pancreas. Patients experiencing issues related to these organs may present with a range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, digestive disturbances, abdominal bloating, jaundice (either painful or painless), tea-colored urine, pale stools, fatigue, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, and, in some cases, altered bowel habits.

To summarize, our gastroenterologists are adept at managing a variety of conditions, including:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia
• Barrett's esophagus
• Non-esophageal reflux disorders (NERD)
• Esophageal reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn
• Cyclical vomiting syndrome
• Functional dyspepsia and bloating
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding
• Early gastrointestinal cancers (esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (constipation, diarrhea, and mixed subtypes)
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
• Malabsorptive disorders
• Chronic diarrhea and chronic constipation (slow-transit and dyssynergic defecation)
• Functional diarrhea and functional constipation
• Infective gastroenteritis (bacterial, viral, helminthic, and parasitic)
• Metabolic dysfunction associated with steatotic liver disorders (formerly known as fatty liver)
• Acute and chronic hepatitis (including hepatitis A, B, and C)
• Liver cirrhosis and its complications
• Gallbladder polyps, gallstones, and bile duct stones
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis
• Additional gastrointestinal and liver disorders not explicitly listed here

Our gastroenterologists are proficient in performing a variety of procedures, including but not limited to:

• Diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy
• Therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy
• Endoscopic hemostasis for controlling gastrointestinal bleeding
• Endoscopic variceal and hemorrhoidal ligation
• Argon plasma coagulation for selected gastrointestinal conditions, such as arteriovenous malformations, telangiectasia, malignant tumor bleeding, solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, and anti-reflux mucosal ablation therapy
• Advanced imaging techniques, including dye-based chromoendoscopy (acetic acid, Lugol's iodine, methylene blue and indigocarmine) and digital chromoendoscopy (narrow-band imaging)
• Basic and advanced polypectomy techniques in endoscopy and colonoscopy, including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and its various iterations, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection (STER), and full-thickness resection (FTR)
• Endoscopic foreign body removal
• Application of over-the-scope clips for various clinical needs, including benign fistula closure, managing refractory bleeding, early cancer excision, and closing iatrogenic perforations
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for biliary and pancreatic assessments
• Extraction of biliary and pancreatic stones
• Placement of biliary tract and pancreatic duct stents
• Endoscopic sphincteroplasty
• Video capsule endoscopy for non-invasive examination
• Push enteroscopy
• Fecal microbiota transplantation
• Esophageal pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry
• Conducting colonic transit studies with Sitzmark capsules
• Endoscopic enteral dilatation and stent placement
• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion

This comprehensive array of services underscores our commitment to providing high-quality care in gastroenterology and hepatology.