The Gastroenterology (GI) Unit performs almost 15,000 diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures each year, the unit is JAG (Joint Advisory Group) accredited. In addition, non-endoscopic procedures such as C13 urea breath tests are carried out on a weekly basis. Day case treatments, diagnostic tests and drug infusions are also all performed on a regular basis in the unit.
Gastroenterology can be divided into five different disciplines: Upper GI, Lower GI, Clinical Nutrition, Hepatology, Pancreaticobiliary.
Upper GI
We provide a specialist service for the treatment of upper GI conditions including:
Surgical treatments include laparoscopic (key hole) surgery where appropriate.
We are also a dedicated specialist surgical cancer centre for the treatment of upper GI cancer, and provide surgical treatment and specific surgical high dependency nursing for patients who live within the Black Country and Wyre Forest districts. This includes treatment for:
Lower GI
A comprehensive emergency and elective colorectal care service is provided. Investigation and treatment for all common colorectal conditions are offered together with a dedicated rapid access lower GI clinic where flexible sigmoidoscopy is carried out at a first visit.
The following conditions are provided for in the service:
The Trust has a dedicated full multi-disciplinary team for the management of bowel conditions including gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiotherapists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and clinical nurse specialists.
Clinical Nutrition
The Trust has a large and well-resourced team managing clinical nutrition needs both for in-patients and for out-patients, which includes referrals from other areas of the Midlands.
Examples of patients treated are:
Hepatology
The Trust treats a range of patients with liver disease such as viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver disease. There are specialist nurses supporting patients with viral hepatitis undergoing treatment (who are offered treatments from the full range of antiviral agents, where appropriate), and for patients with alcohol dependency.
Pancreaticobiliary
This includes conditions such as:
There is a range of treatments available at the Trust which include endoscopic interventions such as ERCP (which usually involves removal of stones trapped in the bile duct), endoscopic ultrasound (imaging and treatment of bile duct and pancreatic disease) and surgery (keyhole or open). Patients with potentially curable pancreatic cancer are referred to the local regional referral centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Endoscopy
Central to the investigation and treatment of many patients with gastrointestinal disease, endoscopy involves examination of the digestive tract with flexible video-endoscopes. The Trust has a large, modern and well-equipped unit and carries out over 15 ,000 procedures per year. This includes:
The Gastroenterology (GI) Unit performs almost 15,000 diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures each year, the unit is JAG (Joint Advisory Group) accredited. In addition, non-endoscopic procedures such as C13 urea breath tests are carried out on a weekly basis. Day case treatments, diagnostic tests and drug infusions are also all performed on a regular basis in the unit.
Gastroenterology can be divided into five different disciplines: Upper GI, Lower GI, Clinical Nutrition, Hepatology, Pancreaticobiliary.
Upper GI
We provide a specialist service for the treatment of upper GI conditions including:
Surgical treatments include laparoscopic (key hole) surgery where appropriate.
We are also a dedicated specialist surgical cancer centre for the treatment of upper GI cancer, and provide surgical treatment and specific surgical high dependency nursing for patients who live within the Black Country and Wyre Forest districts. This includes treatment for:
Lower GI
A comprehensive emergency and elective colorectal care service is provided. Investigation and treatment for all common colorectal conditions are offered together with a dedicated rapid access lower GI clinic where flexible sigmoidoscopy is carried out at a first visit.
The following conditions are provided for in the service:
The Trust has a dedicated full multi-disciplinary team for the management of bowel conditions including gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiotherapists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and clinical nurse specialists.
Clinical Nutrition
The Trust has a large and well-resourced team managing clinical nutrition needs both for in-patients and for out-patients, which includes referrals from other areas of the Midlands.
Examples of patients treated are:
Hepatology
The Trust treats a range of patients with liver disease such as viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver disease. There are specialist nurses supporting patients with viral hepatitis undergoing treatment (who are offered treatments from the full range of antiviral agents, where appropriate), and for patients with alcohol dependency.
Pancreaticobiliary
This includes conditions such as:
There is a range of treatments available at the Trust which include endoscopic interventions such as ERCP (which usually involves removal of stones trapped in the bile duct), endoscopic ultrasound (imaging and treatment of bile duct and pancreatic disease) and surgery (keyhole or open). Patients with potentially curable pancreatic cancer are referred to the local regional referral centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Endoscopy
Central to the investigation and treatment of many patients with gastrointestinal disease, endoscopy involves examination of the digestive tract with flexible video-endoscopes. The Trust has a large, modern and well-equipped unit and carries out over 15 ,000 procedures per year. This includes: