Which doctor deals with the intestines: definition, name, classification and specifics of the work of a gastroenterologist

Not everyone knows which doctor deals with the intestines, while many have some problems with the digestive system. The main specialist in this field is a gastroenterologist. In addition to it, a therapist can provide help with diseases of the digestive system.

Who is a gastroenterologist?

If a person has serious digestive problems, and he does not know which doctor deals with the intestines, he is first recommended to consult this specialist. A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.

Currently, this specialty is narrow. Such a doctor is not in every clinic. For this reason, most patients initially turn to the following doctors:

• therapist;
• surgeon;
• general doctor.

All these specialists are able to provide advice, as well as identify diseases of the digestive system. In most cases, they can accurately establish the diagnosis and prescribe a rational treatment. The exception is difficult situations when the patient develops an atypical clinical picture or a rare form of the disease. In addition, specialized diagnostic equipment may be required, available only in gastroenterological departments.

What diseases does a gastroenterologist face?

If the patient has a pronounced pathology, then no one doubts which doctor deals with the intestines in this case. In the process of his activity, a gastroenterologist is constantly faced with the following diseases:

1. Gastritis.
2. Gastric and duodenal ulcers.
3. Esophagitis.
4. Nonspecific ulcerative colitis.
5. Crohn's disease.
6. Hepatitis.
7. Cholecystitis.
8. Cholelithiasis.
9. Pancreatitis

Depending on their severity, all these diseases can be treated both inpatiently and on an outpatient basis.

The specifics of the profession of gastroenterologist

Many therapists in the future want to become owners of this particular medical specialty. This is due to the following advantages of the gastroenterologist:

• this doctor deals with pathology that affects only the digestive system;
• he meets with quite complex, and therefore interesting from a clinical point of view, cases;
• most private medical centers of a therapeutic orientation want to see a gastroenterologist on staff.

Of the difficulties, it should be noted that the gastroenterologist has to deal with cases of incurable diseases (for example, cirrhosis of the liver) in which he is unable to help his patients. In addition, the wage level of this specialist in state clinics is quite low.

Where does the specialist work?

Patients with digestive problems are interested not only in which doctor deals with the intestines and stomach, but also in what exactly it is possible to consult with this specialist. Currently, in ordinary state polyclinics such a doctor is almost impossible to meet. They can work in the following institutions:

• in specialized departments of large stationary healthcare organizations;
• in multifunctional inter-district clinics;
• in private medical centers.

In the case of state-owned institutions, to get advice from a gastroenterologist on an insurance policy, you must first visit a local therapist, undergo a mandatory preliminary examination and get a referral.

How to become a gastroenterologist?

Every doctor knows which doctor is treating the bowel. Moreover, many of them in the future do not mind getting a specialization in gastroenterologist. Any general practitioner can apply for it. To do this, he must either pay for tuition on his own, or get a referral from a health care institution where he works or plans to work. In the future, the therapist will need to take four-month courses, during which he will learn all the necessary skills for the successful diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastroenterological profile.

Another option, however much less likely, is to receive an internship in gastroenterology. To date, there are practically no places in it. Institutes and universities try to graduate specialists of a wide profile, that is, general practitioners and general practitioners.

The main diagnostic methods in gastroenterology

In the clinic at the place of residence, the patient will be told not only about which doctor deals with intestines and constipation, treats severe gastritis and duodenal ulcers, but also about what types of studies to go through before consulting this specialist. The main ones are the following:

• fibrograstroduodenoscopy;
• colonoscopy;
• ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs;
• liver scintigraphy;
• radiography of the abdominal cavity;
• gastrointestinal fluoroscopy;
• computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal organs;
• general blood analysis;
• general urine analysis;
• biochemical blood test (with determination of the level of bilirubin, total protein, amylase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, electrolytes, cholesterol).

Naturally, in each case, only some of these studies are necessary, regardless of which doctor deals with intestinal problems.

How will the therapist help?

Any doctor of this profile has general knowledge on the treatment of gastroenterological diseases. If the patient goes to a regular clinic with a question about which doctor treats the intestines in adults, then he is advised to initially consult with this specialist. In most cases, he is able to provide sufficient assistance. Only in really complicated, difficult or atypical situations will he need the help of a gastroenterologist.

Today, the therapist can successfully treat the following digestive tract pathology:

• gastritis;
• duodenal and gastric ulcer;
• uncomplicated colitis;
• hepatitis;
• cholecystitis;
• pancreatitis

We are talking about diseases that are not accompanied by serious complications. In addition, the therapist treats hepatitis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis only in those cases when they have a chronic course. If there is an acute version of this pathology, then the patient is hospitalized in the surgical or gastroenterological department.

Specialized Hospital

It treats patients with serious enough gastroenterological diseases that cannot be defeated on an outpatient basis. It does not matter which doctor treats colitis in the early stages of its development. If the disease cannot be eliminated in the first weeks of therapy, or the course of the pathology is aggravated, then the patient is transferred to a specialized department under the supervision of gastroenterologists.

This hospital in its structure differs little from therapeutic. At the same time, he has several features, the main of which are the following:

1. Nurses and nurses here are especially closely monitoring the diet of patients. Not only most types of products cannot be brought to the department, but also the organized nutrition of patients is differentiated. During hospitalization, the doctor makes a note indicating which diet is recommended to a person.
2. Often in the gastroenterological departments there is an endoscopic cabinet. An exception may be those situations when it comes to large multifunctional hospitals, where there is a separate endoscopic department.

If the patient is in such a specialized department, then he may not even doubt which doctor deals with the intestines in his case. It will definitely be a gastroenterologist. Other specialists in this department are absent. If necessary, gastroenterologists can attract other doctors (neurologists, endocrinologists, surgeons) with the advisory help.

What will a gastroenterologist prescribe?

Currently, there are a huge number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. To combat them, many different medicines have been developed. It doesn’t matter which doctor deals with intestines and constipation, gastritis and a duodenal ulcer, hepatitis and pancreatitis. Anyway, he will use drugs of the following groups:

1. Proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole, Pantoprazole).
2. Antacids ("Phosphalugel", "Almagel").
3. Antispasmodics ("Drotverin", "Papaverine", "Spazmoton").
4. Alginates ("Gaviscon", "Laminal").
5. Prokinetics ("Metoclopramide", "Motilak").
6. Sulfanilamides ("Sulfasalazine").
7. Antibiotics.
8. Laxatives (Lactulose, Endofalk, Bisacodyl).
9. Probiotics (Linex, Lacidophil, Bifidumbacterin).
10. Enterosorbents (activated carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta, Polysorb).

Regardless of which doctor deals with the intestines in an adult or a child, for the purpose of treatment, he will prescribe drugs from only a few of the listed groups according to the pathology that a person has.

The effectiveness of treatment at the gastroenterologist

Most often, such a specialist manages to save the patient from problems with his digestive system. Unfortunately, in chronic forms of the disease, the positive effect of the therapy decreases over time, and the person again has to undergo specialized treatment.

Thanks to the achievements of modern pharmacology, today there are not so many gastroenterological diseases that can create a threat to human life (subject to rational treatment). The most significant successes in therapy are observed if the patient complies with all the doctor's recommendations (including regarding diet), and is also ready to undergo inpatient treatment courses.