Gastroenterology

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The Gastroenterology ( ancient Greek γαστήρ Gaster , German , stomach ' ; ἒντερον ENTERON , German , intestine' ) is a sub-area of internal medicine . A doctor who specializes in gastroenterology is called a gastroenterologist . The specialization in nervous conditions in this area is called neurogastroenterology .

Gastroenterology deals with the diagnosis , therapy and prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the organs associated with this tract, the liver , gallbladder and pancreas . The focus within the specialist area is endoscopy , hepatology and gastroenterological oncology . Important gastroenterological diseases, for example, ulcer disease (gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer), tumors of the digestive tract ( colon cancer ), liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis , intestinal diseases such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis . A large group of diseases includes the so-called functional disorders (functional dyspepsia , irritable bowel syndrome ).

Methods

Diagnostic and therapeutic measures in gastroenterological diseases are often carried out endoscopically , that is, in the form of a gastroscopy or colonoscopy . Smaller operations such as the removal of tumors, ligation of bleeding vessels or the insertion of stents or prostheses to reopen closed parts of the intestine can also be performed here. The bile duct or pancreatic duct can be probed and treated if necessary using ERCP .

Work is currently underway to expand endoscopy. Large accumulations of fluid in the pancreas can be relieved through artificially created holes in the stomach wall, so-called NOTES ( natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery ). This method is used to attempt surgical operations such as gallbladder removal , pancreatic operations , etc. in the stomach, intestines or vagina. The driving force behind this development is the desire of some patients to be completely free of scars after surgical interventions, but surgical operations that are difficult to perform (pancreas, mediastinum ) could also be made much easier and more elegant as a result. An important pillar of gastroenterology is the ultrasound examination ( sonography ). The functional disorders occasionally require so-called functional examinations such as pressure measurement ( manometry ) or measurements of the passage time of the stomach, small intestine or large intestine.

history

As a specialty of digestive diseases, gastroenterology was first found in Berlin in 1886, where the doctor Ismar Boas described himself as a “specialist in gastrointestinal diseases” and “gastroenterologist”.

Training as a gastroenterologist

In Germany, the training included a five-year further training and examination to become a specialist in internal medicine, as well as an additional two-year training in gastroenterological facilities with a subsequent examination. Since 2006, new further training regulations have been in force in most federal states , which provide for a three-year training in internal medicine and a further three-year training in gastroenterology and an examination. The state medical associations are responsible .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Benedikt Ignatzek: Gastroenterology. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 460 f .; here: p. 460.