Gastroenterology

IBD are disorders represented by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. IBD can lead to debilitating, life-threatening complications if it is not treated

IBD symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea
• Blood in the stool
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Unintended weight loss

Symptoms can vary depending on how severe the inflammation is, as well as the location in which it occurs. A person with IBD can also have times of remission and times when the illness is active.

With gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing acid reflux and irritating the esophagus lining.

Common symptoms include:

• Burning sensation in the chest area, or heartburn especially after eating and seems worse at night.
• Chest pains
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sensation of having a lump in your throat
• Regurgitation of sour liquid or food

Acid reflux in during the night can result in:

• Laryngitis
• Chronic cough
• Asthma
• Sleep disruptions

Colon cancer typically starts in the large intestine, which is the final part of the digestive tract. Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that affects both the colon and the rectum. While it usually affects older adults, colon and colorectal cancer can occur at any age.

Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer, which is a term that combines colon cancer and rectal cancer, which begins in the rectum.

Colorectal cancer symptoms include:

• A change in bowel habits - this may include diarrhoea, constipation, or stool consistency
• Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding
• Abdominal discomfort (cramps, pain, or gas) that doesn’t seem to go away
• Feeling like your bowel does not empty completely even though you’ve been to the toilet.
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue and weakness

Some people do not experience any symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer. Symptoms may also vary for different individuals. The best way to catch this disease is through regular screening, especially if you have risk factors such as a family history of it.

Prescription drugs to neutralise, reduce and block excessive stomach acid production may be prescribed. Drastic measures include surgery and procedures such as these listed below may be recommended:

- Fundoplication to tighten the muscle and prevent reflux by wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esophageal sphincter.

Stage 1 and 2 hemorrhoid development may require lifestyle changes and minor medical treatment which may include diets with high fibre foods, the usage of topical treatments, warm water soaks and anal area cleanliness. Haemorrhoid symptoms often go away within one or two weeks.

However, if persistent bleeding and painful haemorrhoids occur, our specialist team may perform rubber band ligation, in which one or two small bands are placed at the base of the haemorrhoid to cut off blood circulation. Alternatively, injections (sclerotherapy) and coagulation via infrared and/or lasers may be recommended for haemorrhoid size reduction.

If surgery is recommended, the two main options include:

• Haemorrhoidectomy - the most effective and complete way to treat severe or recurring haemorrhoids.
• Stapled haemorrhoidectomy or stapled haemorrhoidopexy - where blood flow to haemorrhoidal tissue is blocked off. This process is typically used for internal haemorrhoids. Though causing less pain, this procedure has a greater recurring risk as compared to a regular haemorrhoidectomy

The typical main treatment method for this would be surgery to remove the cancer. Your doctor may also recommend chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy before and after successful surgery.

In order to treat this condition, various drugs may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system that is causing the inflammation, using antibiotics to treat any related infections. Pain relief as well as anti-diarrhoea medication may also be prescribed.

As bowel rest may reduce inflammation, nutrition through feeding tube inserts or via intravenous injections may be recommended for more severe cases.

For drastic measures, surgery to remove diseased parts of the large and/or small intestine may sometimes be required for much more severe cases.

The easiest path to treatment for this condition would be diet improvement and sometimes antibiotics. Mild cases of diverticulitis infection may only require rest, a liquid diet, stool softeners and antibiotics. However, surgery may be recommended for more severe cases along with a course of antibiotics and intravenous nutrition.

Changes in your diet, or completely removing foods that cause bloating may be recommended by your doctor. Depending on your range of symptoms, fibre supplements, laxative or diarrheal medication may be prescribed to you.

Certain drugs may be prescribed to:

- Ease diarrhea via reduction of muscular contraction and secretion of fluids in the intestine, while increasing rectal muscular tone

- Decrease overgrowth of bacteria

- Increase fluid secretion in small intestines to help bowel movement

This diagnosis allows for the close scrutiny of the stomach and digestive tract. A long instrument resembling a long tube with a camera called an endoscope is used to take images of the inter gastrointestinal environment. For further diagnosis, biopsies may taken to be microscopically examined to help in cancer cell detection.

Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans help give specialists a cross-sectional view of the abdominal organs. This then helps them visualize the conditions of the internal structures of the body.

Often used to check faecal occult blood tests for colorectal screening, this test can help assess the patient's gut health by taking into consideration the change in acidity (pH), colour and consistency of stools. The presence of mucus, red and white blood cells, sugar, fat and bile can help further understand the causes of indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, mal-absorption and infection.

Liver function tests, blood counts and pancreatic enzyme tests can help determine conditions such as parasitic, viral or bacterial infections, lactose intolerance, celiac disease and diarrhoea. These blood tests may often help exclude other serious illnesses.

Sound waves are used to produce dynamic images of organs that may not be accessed via other conventional means such as the gallbladder, pancreas and liver.

As medical test used to detect polyps and other various abnormal gastrointestinal growth, a camera is embedded at the end of a flexible tube, which is then inserted via the anus. This allows specialists to visually examine the large intestine and parts of the small intestine for any abnormalities.