Surgical Gastroenterology
Introduction
Surgical Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology deals with the diseases of the intestines, bile duct, liver and pancreas. It is divided into two studies, medical and surgical. Surgical Gastroenterology is a new specialty and having gained precedence over the past two decades, broadly encompasses the surgery of both the upper gastrointestinal tract and lower GI tract starting from the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, rectum, liver and the pancreas. This speciality became a necessity with rapid progress in diagnostic and interventional Gastroenterology requiring surgeons specially trained in operating the gastrointestinal tract.
Surgical technology has been refined and treatment of benign and cancerous diseases of the digestive tract has evolved alongside it as a super speciality. Rapid advances in the field of surgery namely “Minimal access surgery” or “Keyhole surgery” and organ transplantation are very closely associated with abdominal surgery further widening the horizons of Surgical Gastroenterology. Advanced surgery on each the organ of the GI tract requires specialized training and skill taught in very few surgical units in the country and abroad.A surgical gastroenterologist undergoes trainings first as a general surgeon and thereafter obtains specialized training in the field of surgical Gastroenterology. Most surgical interventions in surgical gastroenterology are performed with advanced laparoscopic surgery. Surgical Gastroenterologists are also adept at diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy and most practicing interventional gastroenterologists in India are trained as surgeons.
Treatment
Given below are only some common and routine procedures performed by surgical gastroenterologists:
- Pancreas.
- Gallbladder and bile ducts
- Upper GI tract
- Liver
- Small intestine Surgery for tumors, gangrenes and perforations
- Colon and rectum
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