Gastroenterology is a special discipline that studies the structure, physiology and pathology of the digestive system, as well as issues of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive system. Within gastroenterology there are narrower sections: for example, liver and gallbladder diseases are studied by hepatology, pathology of the large intestine and pararectal space – proctology. The state of the endocrine system, the oral cavity, and the presence of infectious agents in the body have a great influence on the normal activity of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

The digestive system includes a set of many organs and glands that provide the nutrients necessary for the body to develop and function. It permeates almost the entire body, starting with the oral cavity and ending with the rectum. Therefore, the pathology of even one of the digestive organs entails a disorder of the functioning of the digestive system as a whole. Modern ecology, stress, new foods and supplements, as well as medications cause the occurrence or exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diseases of the digestive system are so common that every person meets with their manifestations at least once in their life. Among the diseases of the digestive tract, the undisputed leaders are inflammatory processes of its various departments that have an acute or chronic course: inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), stomach (gastritis), duodenum (duodenitis), liver (hepatitis), pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder and ducts (cholecystitis and cholangitis), small and large intestines (enteritis and colitis), rectum (proctitis). They, in turn, cause changes in the mucous membrane of organs, their motor function and lead to ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, cholelithiasis, ulcerative colitis. A serious problem of modern society is intestinal dysbiosis, which occurs in the vast majority of people, including newborn children.

Diseases of the stomach, pancreas, intestines often serve as the root cause of many diseases of the skin and metabolism. The symptoms of diseases of the digestive system are very diverse and depend on the affected organ. Common manifestations are impaired appetite, abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, stool disorder, weakness, weight loss.

Modern gastroenterology has great diagnostic capabilities that allow us to recognize diseases of the digestive system already at the early stages of occurrence. Laboratory tests include blood tests, gastric and duodenal juice, feces, intestinal microflora, tissue samples taken during biopsy. X-ray and endoscopic methods (esophagoscopy, colonoscopy, gastroduodenoscopy, etc.) are used to examine the hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract, ultrasound diagnostics are used for parenchymal. Many chronic diseases of the digestive system, which subsequently require surgical intervention, are caused by neglect or undertreatment of an acute condition. Therefore, the occurrence of any pathological manifestation in the digestive system should serve as a signal to immediately contact a specialist gastroenterologist. In the treatment of diseases of the digestive system, the patient will be required to strictly follow the treatment regimen and diet.

Gallstone Pancreatitis

Gallstone pancreatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pancreas, which occurs as a result of damage to the liver and VVP (bile ducts). It is manifested by biliary colic, dyspeptic phenomena, jaundice, diabetes mellitus and weight loss. The diagnosis is made after ultrasound of the hepatobiliary system, CT or MRI of the abdominal organs,…

Gallstone Ileus

Gallstone ileus is one of the variants of mechanical intestinal obstruction caused by blockage of the intestine by a gallstone. Pathology occurs during the formation of a biliodigestive fistula, through which large concretions enter the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of the disease include spastic pains throughout the abdomen, acute retention of stool and gases, increasing intoxication…

Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Protein-energy malnutrition (BEM) is a pathological condition characterized by a deficiency of nutrients, energy and negatively affects the work of all body systems. The main signs of pathology are the loss of more than 10% of the initial weight in a short time, asthenovegetative syndrome, dryness and pallor of the skin. Diagnostic search involves performing physical…

Femoral Hernia

Femoral hernia is a tumor–like protrusion formed when the loops of the intestine and omentum exit the abdominal cavity through the femoral ring. It is manifested by the presence of a sac-like protrusion in the area of the femoral triangle in the vertical position of the body, pain. If a hernia is infringed, intestinal obstruction…

Acholia

Acholia is a clinical syndrome that occurs when the flow of bile into the small intestine stops. Pathology develops as a complication of cholelithiasis, neoplasms of the pancreato-hepatobiliary zone, viral and toxic hepatitis. The main feature is light gray feces, which contains drops of fat and undigested protein fibers. Ultrasound and CT of the hepatobiliary…

Achlorhydria

Achlorhydria is the absence of free hydrochloric acid in the stomach cavity due to a violation of its production by lining cells. It is manifested by a feeling of bursting and heaviness in the stomach, pain in the epigastrium, nausea, belching, bloating. A diagnosis can be made when performing EGD with congo-mouth staining, gastric biopsy…

Achalasia Cardia

Achalasia cardia is a lack of relaxation or insufficient relaxation of the lower esophagus of neurogenic etiology. It is accompanied by a disorder of the reflex opening of the cardiac orifice during the act of swallowing and a violation of the ingestion of food masses from the esophagus into the stomach. Disease is manifested by…

Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis is a rare systemic disease of the pancreas and other organs caused by damage to connective tissue by G4 immunoglobulins. It is manifested by abdominal pain, jaundice syndrome, dyspepsia, changes in stool and signs of malnutrition. It is diagnosed by ultrasound, MRI of the pancreatic gland, coprogram, determination of the level of immunoglobulins…

Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a progressive chronic inflammation of the liver, occurring with signs of a periportal or more extensive lesion and the presence of autoantibodies to liver cells. Clinical manifestations include asthenovegetative disorders, jaundice, pain in the right hypochondrium, skin rashes, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, amenorrhea in women, gynecomastia in men. Diagnosis is based on serological…

Pancreatic Atrophy

Pancreatic atrophy is a decrease in the volume of the organ, manifested by the insufficiency of the external secretory (production of digestive enzymes, bicarbonate) and intrasecretory (synthesis of insulin, glucagon) functions. The most common causes of pathology are chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, somatic diseases with severe exhaustion, as well as cirrhosis of the liver, impaired…