GASTROENTEROLOGY

Gastroenterology is the branch of science in which the diagnosis and treatment of diseases starting from the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas and gall bladder are performed. Doctors specialised in gastroenterology are called 'Gastroenterologist'. Gastroenterologist; It is the name given to medical doctors who specialise in digestive system (gastrointestinal system) diseases and endoscopic diagnosis and treatment methods of these diseases for at least 3 years after 6 years of medical education and 5 years of Internal Medicine speciality training.

In our hospitals, there are endoscopy units that prioritise patient comfort for endoscopic examinations and procedures and are prepared in ideal conditions where physicians and health personnel can work comfortably. These units are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and are fully maintained and hygienised. In endoscopy applications, anaesthesia applications can also be performed when deemed necessary. For this purpose, equipment for anaesthesia and anaesthesiologists are also available in our Gastroenterology units.

Diseases that Gastroenterology Department is interested in:
Diagnosis and treatment of all diseases related to the digestive system (gastrointestinal system) are performed by the gastroenterology department. All endoscopic procedures such as upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy (gastroscopy), colonoscopy, ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), enteroscopy are diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed by specialised gastroenterologists.

Gastritis
Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
Peptic ulcer disease
Stomach cancer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Oesophageal cancer
Fatty Liver Disease
Hepatitis (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson's disease, haemochromatosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic hepatitis)
Liver cirrhosis
Pancreatic diseases (pancreatic cancer, cyst, pancreatitis)
Gallbladder and bile duct stones, cancers
Irritable bowel syndrome (Irritable bowel syndrome)
Constipation
Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
Celiac disease
Large bowel (colon) cancer
Haemorrhoids, anal fissure, anal fistula

Endoscopy:
Endoscopy is the process of examining the internal parts of various organs, especially the stomach, by visualising them with advanced optical devices. This procedure is performed with the help of a device called an endoscope, which has a light at the end that allows a clear view of the environment. Using this device, the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, small and large intestines can be clearly visualised and definitive diagnoses of gastrointestinal system diseases can be made. It is also possible to take samples (biopsies) of diseased tissues seen during endoscopy and send them for pathological examination. Samples can be taken from tumours and polyps seen during the procedure to investigate whether they are benign or malignant, or to investigate the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori, which causes gastritis and ulcers, especially in the stomach. Although all imaging procedures performed with the help of an endoscope are called endoscopy, there are different types of endoscopy such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy, which are sub-branches of endoscopy in gastroenterology units. Although the name of the endoscopy application varies according to the organ to be examined, the size and types of endoscope and other devices used vary according to the region.

To whom endoscopy applications are performed:
People who apply to internal medicine and other clinics with complaints of stomach pain,
Patients presenting with complaints such as heartburn, acidic liquid in the mouth, burning in the chest, nausea and persistent vomiting, fever, fatigue,
Patients presenting with dysphagia (dysphagia) and a feeling of sticking when swallowing,
In patients with excessive weight loss for which no cause can be found,
People with anaemia (anaemia) despite adequate and balanced nutrition,
Individuals with brown or bloody vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and black stools,
Patients who have previously undergone gastrointestinal surgery and need to undergo control,
In long lasting, stubborn and unresponsive to treatment constipation stories,
In patients who require biopsy of suspicious lesions in imaging procedures such as ultrasonography and tomography,
Endoscopy applications are utilised in catheter placement and control procedures of patients who cannot be fed by mouth and are fed by tube with applications such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ).

Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy, a sub-branch of endoscopy, is one of the most common endoscopic procedures performed in gastroenterology clinics. This procedure is the process of visualising the entire large intestine and the part of the small intestine adjacent to the large intestine with a thin and bendable device with a camera at the end. It is defined as the most reliable method in the diagnosis of colon cancer. At the same time, with this method, diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to the region from the end of the small intestine to the large intestine, rectum and anus can be performed. If inflammation, ulcers, polyps or similar suspicious lesions are found in colonoscopic imaging procedures performed for diagnostic purposes, a biopsy can be taken from the area and the sample obtained can be sent to pathology laboratories for examination. At the same time, common large intestine polyps can be removed during colonoscopy when deemed necessary. Although there is no complaint, it is recommended by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation that individuals aged 50 and over undergo colonoscopy for control purposes.

To whom colonoscopy is performed?
In cases of black coloured stools, rectal bleeding and blood in the stool
Unexplained abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation,
Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal polyps,
In the controls of patients with a family history of bowel cancer,
In cases of anaemia of unknown cause,
In patients with blood in the faeces as a result of a stool test,
Diagnosis, treatment and surgical operation stages of patients with bowel cancer,
Investigation of the cause of unexplained weight loss,
Diagnosis and treatment of haemorrhoids (haemorrhoids) patients,
In patients with suspicious lesions found as a result of intestinal imaging procedures,
In patients in whom the faecal structure has been abnormal for a long period of time,
In control and surgical treatment interventions of people with chronic bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease,
Colonoscopy is used both in diagnosis and, if necessary, in treatment stages, especially in routine controls of elderly patients.

Points to be considered before endoscopic examinations:
The patient should be hungry and thirsty for a certain period of time before the procedure. If the patient is not anaesthetised during the procedure, it is normal to feel some pain due to the pressure of the endoscope and the curved structures in the digestive tract. After the endoscopy procedure is over, it is normal to have problems such as pain, discomfort and bleeding in the area where the procedure was performed for a certain period of time. The recommendations of the physician should be taken into consideration in these matters.