Questions about Gastroenterology
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is gastroenterology and what does a gastroenterologist do?
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders. Gastroenterologists, sometimes called GI doctors, treat the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, along with the pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. They order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, and perform procedures such as colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, and liver biopsy.
What are the most common conditions treated in gastroenterology?
Common conditions managed by gastroenterologists include gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Others include peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, hepatitis, pancreatitis, colitis, colon polyps and cancer, and nutritional problems.
Who discovered Helicobacter pylori and won the Nobel Prize for it?
Barry Marshall and Robin Warren of Australia were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2005 for discovering Helicobacter pylori in 1982 and 1983 and its role in peptic ulcer disease. James Leavitt assisted in their research but was not included in the award because the Nobel Prize is not given posthumously.
How long does it take to become a gastroenterologist in the United States?
Becoming a gastroenterologist in the United States requires three years of internal medicine residency followed by three additional years in a dedicated gastroenterology fellowship. Training is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine at programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
What is the difference between a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy?
A colonoscopy uses a long thin tube with a camera passed through the anus to view the rectum and the entire length of the colon, typically taking 30 to 60 minutes with sedation. A sigmoidoscopy uses the same kind of scope but views only the rectum and the last part of the colon, lasts ten to twenty minutes, and is done without sedation.
When did the history of endoscopy begin in gastroenterology?
The earliest description of endoscopy dates to 1805, when Philipp Bozzini built a tube he named the Lichtleiter to examine the urinary tract, rectum, and pharynx. Adolf Kussmaul developed the gastroscope in 1868, and Basil Hirschowitz introduced the first prototype of a fibreoptic gastroscope in 1957.
What is Barrett's esophagus and how is it linked to GERD?
Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus changes to resemble the lining of the intestine, raising the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease carries a 10 to 15 percent risk of Barrett's esophagus, with added risk factors including GERD for more than 5 years, being age 50 or older, and a history of smoking.