MEDICAL GASTROENTEROLOGIST
Dr. T. A. Balakumaran M.B.B.S.,M.D., D.N.B
Consultant Medical Gastroentrologist
We have one of the best Cardiologist, who is an expert in treating congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure and valvular heart disease.
Medical gastroenterology, also known as gastroenterology, is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases affecting the digestive system. The digestive system includes organs such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Gastroenterologists are medical doctors who have completed training in internal medicine and then pursued additional training and specialization in gastroenterology. They are experts in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, ranging from common issues such as acid reflux and ulcers to more complex conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver diseases, and gastrointestinal cancers.
Here are some common areas of focus in medical gastroenterology:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Gastroenterologists often diagnose and treat GERD, a condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: Gastroenterologists manage peptic ulcers, which are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. These ulcers can be caused by factors like infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria or prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Gastroenterologists treat conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are chronic inflammatory disorders of the digestive tract. These conditions cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and weight loss.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Gastroenterologists help manage IBS, a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits.
- Liver Diseases: Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat various liver conditions, including viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B and C), fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
- Pancreatic Diseases: Gastroenterologists manage diseases of the pancreas, such as acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, and pancreatic cancer.
- Gastrointestinal Cancers: Gastroenterologists play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
Gastroenterologists utilize a range of diagnostic procedures to evaluate and diagnose GI disorders, such as endoscopy (including upper endoscopy and colonoscopy), imaging studies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography [CT], and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and various laboratory tests.