Gastro-enterology concerns the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract and related intra-abdominal organs (i.e. the pancreas, liver and biliary ducts). The digestive tract is generally examined by endoscopy of the natural ducts. Some urgent digestive problems can soon endanger the patients’ life mainly:
Haemorrhages caused by ulcers, gastric erosion, haemorrhoids, cancer, diverticulum, or rupture of varices are stopped by surgery and/or medication.
Occlusions due to obstruction, strangulation or paralysis caused by a hernia, a tumour, invagination etc. are treated, depending on the cause, by medication or surgery.
Infections such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, peritonitis are treated by antibiotics carefully chosen and, if possible, by removing the source of infection by surgery.