İrmet Hospital Gastroenterology Department; It serves in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pancreas, liver, gall bladder, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine diseases. In the endoscopy unit, digestive system diseases can be easily diagnosed with thin camera systems placed through the mouth or rectally, and most of them can be treated during the procedure. Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, rectosigmoidoscopy, ERCP and capsule endoscopy procedures are routinely performed in our endoscopy unit.
What is gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology Subdivision is the subsidiary branch of Internal Diseases Department that deals with digestive system diseases.
What are the diseases that the gastroenterology department deals with?
When it comes to digestive system diseases , it can be summarized as the digestive tract; diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, anus and organs other than the digestive tract; diseases related to liver, pancreas and gall bladder / tracts. Among these diseases; reflux disease, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, gallstones / polyps, hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, other inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis coli, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and intestinal cancers.
What are the working areas of the gastroenterology specialty?
Gastroenterology specialists are physicians who firstly become internal medicine specialist and then specialize in digestive system diseases with 3-4 years of theoretical and practical minor specialization training. In this context, they are trained and experienced in the use of state-of-the-art devices and systems such a
s Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Ultrasound, Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP), Endoscopic Ultrasonography, Manometry, Capsule Endoscopy and advanced diagnostic / therapeutic procedures performed through them.
What are gastrointestinal tract diseases?
Among the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract; reflux disease, gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, other inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis coli, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, esophagus, stomach, intestine cancers.
s Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Ultrasound, Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP), Endoscopic Ultrasonography, Manometry, Capsule Endoscopy and advanced diagnostic / therapeutic procedures performed through them.
How are the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases?
In the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases, in addition to the use of non-invasive diagnostic methods such as physical examination and necessary laboratory tests, ultrasound, passage graphs, computer tomography, magnetic resonance, interventional methods such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP can be used. . These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes.
How are the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases?
In the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tract diseases, in addition to the use of non-invasive diagnostic methods such as physical examination and necessary laboratory tests, ultrasound, passage graphs, computer tomography, magnetic resonance, interventional methods such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP can be used. . These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes.
Examples of therapeutic endoscopic interventions:
• Prevention of cancer development by removing polyp (benign tumor)
• In patients with bleeding, stopping the bleeding by injecting stopping drugs, burning with laser, throwing stitches (clips) or tape from the inside.
• Application of expansion treatments with devices such as balloon, bougie or stent in duct stenosis.
• Treatment of hemorrhoids with tape or drug-laser
Endoscopic suturing or repair with stents in cases such as canal injury / rupture caused by surgery or other reasons
What are small intestine diseases?
The small intestine starts right after the stomach and divides into the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, respectively,whose main task is digestion of food, hormone secretion and protection against pathogenic microbes.Major ulcers, Celiac disease, other malabsorption syndromes, Crohn’s disease, food poisoning (acute gastroenteritis) and some cancers can be seen in this part.
How are small intestine diseases diagnosed and treated?
In addition to the use of non-invasive diagnostic methods such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, passage graphs, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, interventional methods such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP, capsule endoscopy can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases. These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes.
What are colon diseases?
Colon (large intestine) is the last part of the digestive system that starts in the continuation of the small intestine and ends in the anus (breech) region. Its main tasks are to contribute to digestion, maintain the body’s water balance and protect against infections. Diseases include inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis coli, acute infectious colitis (some food poisoning), polyps (benign tumors) and cancers.
How are colon diseases diagnosed and treated?
In the diagnosis and treatment of colon diseases, non-invasive diagnostic methods such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, passage graphs, computed tomography, magnetic resonance can be used, as well as interventional methods such as colonoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound. These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes. To give examples of therapeutic endoscopic interventions:
• Prevention of cancer development by removing polyp (benign tumor)
• In patients with bleeding, stopping the bleeding by injecting stopping drugs, burning with laser, throwing stitches (clips) or tape from the inside.
• Application of expansion treatments with devices such as balloon, bougie or stent in duct stenosis.
• Treatment of hemorrhoids with tape or drug-laser
• Endoscopic suturing or repair with stents in cases such as canal injury / tear caused by surgery or other reasons
What are liver and biliary tract diseases?
The liver is an organ that has functions such as digestion, storage, fighting infections, detoxification, synthesis of many vital proteins and substances, and can create vital risks when its functions are impaired. On the other hand, it is our organ that repairs / regenerates itself best with our skin. For example; It is seen that the missing part is more than completed within 1 month in donors whose 2-thirds of organs were taken for liver transplantation. Among its main diseases; Acute or chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), jaundice, cirrhosis, cancer, benign cysts and tumors, vascular occlusions are seen.
Bile is essentially secreted by the liver, produced and stored in the gallbladder, just below the liver, through the bile ducts. When we eat, triggered by hormonal mechanisms, the gall bladder contracts and empties the stored bile into the duodenum through the ducts. Major diseases include gallstones, sac polyps, inflammation called cholecystitis, bile duct inflammation called cholangitis and tumors that cause jaundice.
How are liver and biliary tract diseases diagnosed and treated?
In the diagnosis and treatment of liver and biliary tract diseases, non-invasive diagnostic methods such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, as well as interventional radiological methods (such as PTK), Endoscopic Ultrasound or ERCP can be used. These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes. For example, with ERCP, which is a non-surgical endoscopic treatment performed under sedation (while the patient is sleeping) in a patient who develops obstructive jaundice due to stone in the bile duct, the stone is removed by entering the bile duct and jaundice is treated.
What are pancreatic diseases?
The pancreas is our organ that functions in the digestive process with the secretion of digestive enzymes, located at the back of the stomach and regulates sugar metabolism and digestive functions with hormone secretion, especially insulin. Its main diseases include acute and chronic inflammations (pancreatitis), cysts, tumors and cancers.
How are pancreatic diseases diagnosed and treated?
In addition to the use of non-invasive diagnostic methods such as laboratory tests, ultrasound, computer tomography and magnetic resonance, interventional endoscopic methods such as interventional radiological methods, Endoscopic Ultrasound or ERCP can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of these cases.
What is endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a flexible thin device with a light camera system at the end which the esophagus, stomach and small intestine of patients are examined with . In parallel with the developments in camera technology, with the devices that are constantly changing, improving and developed, the internal organs of the patients can now be seen in more detail by the doctors, touched and biopsy samples can be taken. Since the patients are put to sleep during this procedure, it is ensured that it is both a safe and comfortable procedure. The authority to perform the endoscopy procedure is given to gastroenterology, gastroenterology surgery, pediatric surgery and pediatric gastroenterology specialists. Routine diagnostic endoscopy takes about 10 minutes, and no preliminary preparation is required except for 6-8 hours of fasting.Patients who take blood thinners are able to have bleeding during the procedure so that the patients have to quit them for the specified periods before the procedure. It is the most reliable early diagnosis method in follow-up protocols for patients with high risk of developing cancer in the community. These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes.
Examples of therapeutic endoscopic interventions:
• Prevention of cancer development by removing polyp (benign tumor)
• In patients with bleeding, stopping the bleeding by injecting stopping drugs, burning with laser, throwing stitches (clips) or tape from the inside.
• Application of expansion treatments with devices such as balloon, bougie or stent in duct stenosis.
Endoscopic suturing or repair with stents in cases such as canal injury / rupture caused by surgery or other reasons
After the procedure, the patient is usually awakened in the recovery unit and discharged home. The risk of developing complications due to endoscopy is less than 1/100000 and most of them are mild problems that do not require hospitalization. Complication risk due to sedation is around 1/1000 and most of them are mild problems that do not require hospitalization.
Who is the endoscopy procedure applied to?
Endoscopy should definitely be performed in patients who have chronic (long-lasting) clinical symptoms such as weight loss, nausea, bleeding, anemia, dysphagia, gastric cancer in the family. In addition, endoscopy should be performed in cases such as heartburn unresponsive to drugs – indigestion, suspicion of underlying celiac disease, cancer screening and follow-up, and follow-up of cases with findings that increase the risk of cancer. Alternative non-invasive methods for most of these methods are either ineffective or unsafe.
What is a colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a thin device that has a light camera system at the end and can be bent which the large and small intestines of patients are examined with . In parallel with the developments in camera technology, with the devices that are constantly changing, improving and developed, the internal organs of the patients can now be seen in more detail by the doctors, touched and biopsy samples can be taken. Since the patients are put to sleep during this procedure, it is ensured that it is a safe and comfortable procedure. The authority to perform the colonoscopy procedure is given to gastroenterology, gastroenterology surgery, pediatric surgery and pediatric gastroenterology specialists by law.
Routine diagnostic colonoscopy takes around 20-30 minutes. Before the procedure, it is necessary to use strong drugs for intestinal cleansing one day before fasting for 6-8 hours, and to diet without pulp for 1-2 days. Patients who take blood thinners are likely to have bleeding so that the patients have to quit them for the specified periods before the procedure. These methods can be used by physicians not only for diagnosis but also for therapeutic purposes.
Examples of therapeutic endoscopic interventions:
• Prevention of cancer development by removing polyp (benign tumor)
• To stop the bleeding by injecting stopping drugs with bleeding, by throwing stitches (clips) or tape from the inside.
• Improvement treatments with devices such as balloons, spark plugs or stents in duct stenosis.
• Treatment of hemorrhoids with tape or drug-laser
Surgery or other stitches such as canal injury / rupture for other reasons or repaired with stents
The patient is usually awakened after the procedure in the recovery unit and discharged home. The risk of developing complications due to colonoscopy is less than 1/10000 and most of them are mild problems that do not require hospitalization. Complication risk due to sedation is around 1/1000 and most of them are mild problems that do not require hospitalization.
Whom is the colonoscopy procedure applied to?
Colonoscopy should definitely be performed in patients with chronic (long-lasting) and alarming symptoms such as weight loss, nausea, bleeding, anemia, colon cancer in the family or polyp. In addition, colonoscopy is required in cases such as change in bowel habit unresponsive to drugs, suspicion of underlying inflammatory bowel disease, cancer screening and follow-up, and follow-up of cases with signs that increase cancer risk. Colon cancer screening is clearly included in the diagnosis / follow-up guidelines of the World Health Organization and gastroenterology associations. Colonoscopy is recommended for early diagnosis of cancer and, more importantly, for the prevention of structures that may turn into cancer by destroying them.Screening is required of the patient with a family history every 5 years from the age of 40 or 5 years before the age , and every 10 years after the age of 50 for those who do not have a family history. Alternative non-invasive methods for most of these methods are either ineffective or unsafe. It is important to perform these screenings due to the incidence of polyps (benign intestinal tumors) that increase with age. The polyps detected in the procedure are removed in the same session with appropriate methods and the screening program is started by determining the appropriate frequency according to the number, size and type.
