WhatsAppFrom Diagnosis to Treatment in Gastrointestinal Health
Digestive System Diseases and Surgery is a multidisciplinary department that provides both medical and surgical treatment for diseases affecting the entire digestive tract, from the oesophagus to the anus, as well as the liver, bile ducts and pancreas. In our department, where gastroenterology, general surgery, medical oncology, radiology and pathology specialists work together, every patient undergoes a comprehensive assessment through the multidisciplinary tumour board and case conferences. Academic Hospital's endoscopy capacity and laparoscopic surgery infrastructure support safe outcomes with minimal trauma, even in high-risk cases.
Contents
What Is the Digestive System Diseases and Surgery Department?
The Digestive System Diseases and Surgery Department is an integrated specialty unit that evaluates diseases affecting every component of the gastrointestinal system from both a medical and a surgical perspective. The department covers conditions that require medical management, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel diseases and functional digestive disorders, as well as diseases that create an indication for surgery, such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver lesions, gallbladder diseases and pancreatic tumours. Treatment decisions are made through the joint assessment of surgeons and gastroenterologists; where necessary, medical oncology and radiation oncology are also involved in the process. Early diagnosis, detailed staging and appropriate timing of treatment are critical factors that determine patients' long-term quality of life and survival.
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?
- Oesophageal diseases: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's oesophagus, oesophageal motility disorders (achalasia), oesophageal strictures and oesophageal cancer
- Gastric diseases: Gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and its complications (bleeding, perforation), gastric cancer (adenocarcinoma and GIST tumours)
- Small bowel diseases: Crohn's disease, coeliac disease, small bowel obstruction and carcinoid tumours
- Colorectal diseases: Colon cancer, rectal cancer, polyps (adenomas), diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel diseases: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; medical management and complications requiring surgery
- Liver diseases: Liver cysts and abscesses, primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), metastatic liver lesions, complications of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis
- Bile duct and gallbladder diseases: Gallstones and cholecystitis, bile duct strictures, bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Pancreatic diseases: Complications of acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, pancreatic cancer and neuroendocrine tumours
- Anorectal diseases: Haemorrhoids, anal fissure, anal fistula and anal cancer
- Hernias: Laparoscopic or open repair of inguinal, abdominal and incisional hernias
- Appendicitis and acute abdomen: Conditions requiring emergency surgery, such as acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulum and small bowel volvulus
When Should You Consult Us?
- Unexplained weight loss together with loss of appetite and abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool or black, tar-like stools
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain on swallowing
- Recurrent heartburn or reflux, particularly if it does not respond to treatment
- A persistent change in bowel habits: prolonged constipation, diarrhoea or alternating episodes of both
- Iron deficiency anaemia with no identified cause
- Pain in the upper right abdomen after meals, and jaundice
- Severe, sudden-onset abdominal pain, fever and a rigid abdomen: these require emergency assessment
- Referral for a surgical consultation when a polyp, mass or lesion is found on colonoscopy or imaging
Diagnostic Methods
In our department, diagnosis is made by combining clinical assessment with advanced endoscopic and imaging methods.
| Method | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Direct visualisation of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum; taking biopsies, polypectomy and treatment of the bleeding source | |
| Examination of the entire colon and rectum; polypectomy, biopsy and control of bleeding | |
| A swallowable camera system used to evaluate the small bowel | |
| Detailed imaging of the pancreas, bile ducts and rectum by combining endoscopy with ultrasound; guidance for biopsy | |
| First-line imaging of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and kidneys | |
| Staging of lesions, assessment of vascular involvement and investigation for metastases | |
| Investigation for distant metastases in malignant tumours and assessment of response to treatment | |
| Non-invasive imaging of the bile and pancreatic ducts | |
| CEA, CA 19-9, AFP, CA 125 and other specific markers, together with a complete blood count, liver function tests, amylase and lipase | |
| Histopathological and, where necessary, molecular analysis of tissue samples taken during endoscopy or surgery |
Treatment Approaches
The treatment plan is determined by the multidisciplinary board according to the diagnosis and stage of the disease and the patient's general health.
| Treatment | Scope and application |
|---|---|
| Treatment of early-stage gastric and colon cancers without surgery using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); endoscopic polypectomy; haemostasis (stopping bleeding); balloon dilatation for oesophageal strictures | |
| A minimally invasive approach in gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy), appendicectomy, Nissen fundoplication (reflux surgery), colon resections and hernia repairs; shorter hospital stay, less pain and faster recovery | |
| The advantage of a robotic platform in rectal and oesophageal operations that require precise dissection in confined spaces | |
| Curative or palliative surgery for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and liver tumours; D2 lymphadenectomy, sphincter-preserving low anterior resection and hepatectomy | |
| The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy), distal pancreatectomy and cyst drainage procedures | |
| Bile duct reconstruction and bilioenteric anastomoses for bile duct strictures and cholangiocarcinoma | |
| Haemorrhoid surgery (with an ultrasonic scalpel or a bipolar vessel-sealing device), anal fissure surgery, anal fistula treatment and sphincter repair | |
| Creation of a protective ileostomy or colostomy in colorectal surgery; closure surgery in suitable cases and coordination with a stoma nurse | |
| Joint evaluation of gastrointestinal cancer cases by oncology, radiology, pathology and surgery specialists; determination of the sequence and modality of treatment | |
| Comprehensive oncological management with chemotherapy and radiotherapy before or after surgery, in line with the tumour board's decision |
You can book an appointment with the Academic Hospital Digestive System Diseases and Surgery department.
Book an AppointmentDigestive System Diseases and Surgery at Academic Hospital
In the Academic Hospital Digestive System Diseases and Surgery Department, treatment decisions are made through the joint assessment of gastroenterologists and surgeons, and gastrointestinal cancer cases are discussed at the multidisciplinary tumour board. The department works routinely with the following departments:
- Gastroenterology: medical management of reflux, inflammatory bowel diseases and functional digestive disorders
- General Surgery: conditions requiring abdominal surgery, such as hernias, gallbladder disease and appendicitis
- Pancreas, Liver and Bile Duct Diseases: diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic, liver and bile duct diseases
- Endoscopy: gastroscopy, colonoscopy and endoscopic treatment procedures
- Medical Oncology: planning of chemotherapy before and after surgery in gastrointestinal cancers
- Radiology: staging and imaging with CT, MRI and MRCP
Frequently Asked Questions
References
The general information given on this page about digestive system diseases, diagnostic methods and treatment approaches is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), "Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology", nccn.org
- European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP), "Clinical Guidelines", escp.eu.com
- Mayo Clinic, "Colon Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment", mayoclinic.org
- Siegel RL et al., "Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2023", CA Cancer J Clin. 2023, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- World Health Organization (WHO), "Cancer Fact Sheet", who.int
The information on this page is for informational purposes only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your complaints.
