Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that is concerned with the
treatment of the diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. This
includes the disorders of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine,
liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, rectum, etc. Such
disorders may include polyps and cancer, peptic ulcer disease,
gastroesophageal reflux disease, pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome,
etc. Some of the complex procedures in gastroenterology include
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic mucosal
resection, placement of internal drainage tubes, polypectomy, esophageal
and intestinal dilation, etc. Hepatology is a specialization of
gastroenterology. It is concerned with the management of the disorders
of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tree.
Jaundice/hepatitis, liver disease, liver damage, storage disease of
liver, hemochromatosis, etc. are some of the conditions that are under
the scope of this field. Some of the procedures performed under this
specialization include liver transplant, transjugular intrahepatic
portosystemic shunt, transhepatic pancreato-cholangiography, etc. This
book covers in detail some existing theories and innovative concepts
revolving around gastroenterology and hepatology. Most of the topics
introduced in this book cover new techniques and the applications of
these fields. It is an essential guide for both academicians and those
who wish to pursue these disciplines further.
