In recent years, it’s been seen that unhealthy lifestyles such as skipping regular meals, late night party, consumption of excessive alcohol, smoking, intake of junk and processed foods coupled with stress, anxiety, less sleep and no physical activities have led to the rise of Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders thereby raising concerns about the public's health.

In this blog, we discuss about the common GI conditions, the underlying causes, prevention and focusses on GI Surgery and how it helps individuals to live healthy and happily. Get an in-depth look at GI Surgery in this informative blog.

What is GI System?

GI System involves the total processes of digestion, absorption and removal of waste materials from our body.

Why is GI Surgery needed?

When organs such as oesophagus, stomach, liver, small & large intestine, rectum, gall bladder and pancreas that help in digestion process get affected and need to be treated through surgery to improve the digestion process, GI Surgery is performed. Furthermore, GI Surgery also helps to eliminate tumours or to treat other digestive problems.

Signs of GI Disorders

• Abdominal Pain
• Bloating & Gas
• Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Constipation
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Heartburn

Managing the Rising Trend to Control GI Problems

Lifestyle Changes: Avoiding unhealthy lifestyles like late night party, skipping meals, too much intake of junk food can lower the risk of GI disorders.

Quit Smoking & Less Alcohol intake: Giving up smoking and less alcohol consumption may enhance overall digestive health.

Dietary Changes: A balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and reducing spicy food, processed food, saturated fats and sugar may help in the prevention of GI disorders.

Regular Physical Activity: Regular exercise brisk walking help reduce the risk of GI problems.

Drinking Water: Drinking water helps prevent constipation, boosts digestive enzymes and prevents bloating and gas thereby helps in smooth digestion process.

Early Detection and Timely Treatment: Detecting the early signs of GI disorders and consulting a medical specialist for timely treatment helps in improving in health.

Awareness: People should be educated and made aware about the importance of GI disorders, the risk factors and preventive measures.

Getting Ready for GI Surgery

Certain instructions should be followed by individuals who need to undergo GI Surgery.

Pre-Surgery

Try to go on a liquid diet two or three days before surgery. Avoid drinking water or eating any food after midnight on the day of your surgery. Take medicines and laxatives as advised by your doctor and follow his instructions properly.

Post-Surgery

Hospital stay lasts for 4-7 days depending on the degree and type of surgery. Wash your hands before touching the bandages, if you have any to avoid infection. If bandages become wet, try to change them. Follow your doctor’s advice rightfully.

Risks and Side Effects of GI Surgery

Some of the risks or side effects that come with GI Surgery are:

Pain: The degree of pain and soreness may vary depending on the surgery. Take painkillers and medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Bleeding: Bleeding is common after surgery; however, you must visit your doctor if the pain persists.

Infection: There are chances of infection, so be careful and follow your doctor’s advice.

Reaction to Anaesthesia: You may experience nausea and vomiting feeling as a reaction to anaesthesia.

Moreover, if you experience any symptoms of fever, pus-like drainage, redness, or any other surgical wound infection near your incision, contact your doctor, immediately.

What are the Treatment Options for GI Surgery?

Few treatment options for GI Surgery are:

• Colonoscopy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• Upper GI endoscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Benefits of GI Surgery

Today, with advancement of medical science GI Surgery has helped to improve the quality of life. GI Surgery provides significant relief from debilitating symptoms. It helps to treat a diseased organ in your GI and help save your life. GI surgery can provide lasting relief, improved digestion and better quality of life for persistent digestive problems. GI surgery, an advanced technique is a minimally invasive procedure that involves lesser pain and faster recovery.

Conclusion

GI surgery has now become an effective tool for treating gastrointestinal disorders with ease. For any GI disorders that have not responded to medication, surgery is often the best option. The Gastroenterology Department at Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital, offers comprehensive care and advanced treatment for a wide range of GI disorders associated with liver, oesophagus, small intestine, colon, pancreas, gallbladder & bile duct.

So, if you or your near ones face any GI disorders, you should at once visit your Specialist Doctor or contact Neotia Getwel Multispecialty Hospital for proper GI disorder treatment and care and enjoy a healthy life.

Disclaimer

Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.