The digestive tract, liver, pancreas, and related organs are the main focus of Gastroenterology and Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery. While HPB surgeons specialise in surgical procedures for problems affecting the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts, gastroenterologists diagnose and treat illnesses of the digestive system.
Signs & symptoms that point to the need to see a gastroenterologist:
- Severe discomfort or pain in the abdomen, particularly if it is ongoing or becoming worse.
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, can be a sign of problems with the liver or bile ducts.
- Having trouble swallowing, having heartburn all the time, or vomiting blood are signs of digestive problems.
- Unexplained weight loss, bloating, or bowel behaviour changes that don’t go away with treatment.
- Aberrant growths, tumours, or obstructions in the pancreas, liver, digestive system, or bile ducts, as detected by diagnostic imaging testing.