What is a gastroenterologist – and what do they do?

What is a gastroenterologist – and what do they do?

A gastroenterologist is a type of hospital-based doctor called a physician. Physician are not surgeons and don’t do operations.

They specialise in diseases that affect the digestive system. This includes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus) as well as the pancreas, liver, bile duct and gallbladder.

The disorders a gastroenterologist may treat include:

• Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhoea, constipation and blood in the stool
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Heartburn
• Causes of malabsorption including Coeliac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcers
• Gall stones
• Liver disease, including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, NASH, and alcohol related liver disease
• Liver transplants.

Gastroenterologists are trained to perform a number of procedures used to help diagnose and treat such conditions; including upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy and the various endoscopic techniques needed to visualise the digestive system, including endoscopic ultrasound. They may also perform liver biopsies.

Who do gastroenterologists work with?

They work closely with a range of surgeons, including upper GI, lower GI and liver transplant surgeons. They also work with specialist dietitians.