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A brief intro to Gastroenterologists

Who is a gastroenterologist?

Gastroenterologists (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) or gastro doctors, are medical specialists who diagnose and treat the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The gastrointestinal tract is responsible for digestion of food, absorption of nutrients and removal of waste products from the body. The GI tract starts from the mouth, all the way through to the anal canal. The diseases of this long tract, are therefore, many, and need specialist care for diagnosis and management.

When should you see a gastroenterologist?

The common gastric symptoms for which the help of a gastroenterologist (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) is sought include: acid reflux and heartburn especially if its frequent, gastroenteritis, and constipation. For most of the aforementioned symptoms, specialists can prescribe medication and advice lifestyle modifications.

Your primary healthcare provider can also refer you to a gastric specialist (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) if you experience unexplained bloating, difficulty in swallowing, blood in stool and unexplained weight loss. For people who are over the age of 50 years, sessions should be held with a gastroenterologist for preventive care, as the risk for colon cancer increases with age.

For people, who have a history of colonic cancer in the family, preventive care and yearly colonoscopies should start at the age of 40 years.

What are the main areas of concern of a gastro doctor?

Gastroenterologists (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) deal with the whole of gastric tract. They deal with hepatology, and the diseases of the liver, including the hereditary diseases, acquired infections like hepatitis B and C, as well as complications of alcoholic liver disease. Additionally, they deal with the diseases of the gall bladder, biliary tree, and the bile duct. Even though these stomach specialists don’t deal with liver transplant, they manage a patient of liver disease up until there is need of a transplant. They can also work with the surgical team for the medical management of a liver patient. Pancreatic diseases are also the main area of concern of a gastroenterologist (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر). Pancreatitis is the commonest disorder of the pancreas, followed by pancreatic cancer. Pancreatitis is an extremely painful condition of the pancreas that occurs due to chronic alcohol intake, or due to gall stone obstruction. A gastroenterologist can perform procedures like ERCP for the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis if need be. Gastroenterologists (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) also perform endoscopic surveillance of high-risk patients, including those of peptic ulcer disease, patients of inflammatory bowel disease, and people with family history of colonic cancer. They routinely perform screening procedures on the latter, as well as the elderly. They also perform biopsies to rule out cancers of the GI tract. They educate their patients about the risks of unhealthy eating habits, and sedentary lifestyle. Most of the diseases of the GI tract can be avoided if people eat healthy, use clean water, and work out regularly.

What are the most common gastric disorders in Pakistan?

According to data from the gastroenterology department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), there has been an increase of 30 percent in the number of patients with digestive issues compared to previous years. The most common issues people presented with included: indigestion, followed by gastric ulcers and bleeding esophageal varices which is a complication of chronic hepatitis. People also presented with inflammatory bowel disease—ulcerative colitis, with ulcerative lesions in the large intestine.

The top infectious causes of gastrointestinal diseases are: cholera, typhoid and dysentery. The rise of gastric diseases among the pediatric population is also on the rise, suggesting that the consumption of unclean water, and junk food are the main culprits.

How to become a gastroenterologist in Pakistan?

Following the five years of graduation in medicine and surgery (MBBS), and the mandatory house-job, gastroenterologists (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) enroll in a four-year residency program in GI, where they also have rotations in general medicine. This can be followed by further training in fellow-ship programs and post-graduation. Continual practice and medical education credits are important for a gastro doctor.

What kinds of gastroenterologists are there?

Gastroenterologists (پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر) can choose to specialize in a specific organ of the GI, or in a specific disorder. If a gastroenterologist chooses to study the liver as a specialty, then they are known as hepatologists.

Others can choose a subspecialty based on a disease, including;

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Colorectal cancer
• Interventional endoscopy
• Pediatric gastroenterology
• Transplant hepatology
• Neuro-gastroenterology

What are gastroenterologists called in Pakistan?

• Gastro specialist
• Gastro doctor
• Specialist of stomach
• GI specialist
• Stomach specialist
• معدے کی ماہر
• پیٹ کا ڈاکٹر