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Gastroenterology

Learn gastroenterology basics, digestive system functions, and condition definitions.

Gastroenterology covers the digestive system. It focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing conditions of the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas.

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Discover the modern approach to digestive system health! In the video below, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çağdaş Erdoğan explains how Liv Hospital combines advanced diagnostic technologies with patient comfort to provide life-saving treatments for complex gastrointestinal conditions.

In this comprehensive overview, we explore the innovative procedures, tailored treatments, and patient-centered protocols that define our state-of-the-art gastroenterology department.

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Overview and Definition

The Science of Inner Health

The digestive system is the engine of the human body. It fuels every cell, regulates our immune system, and even influences our mood—scientists now call the gut our “Second Brain.” When this complex system falters, it affects not just your stomach, but your entire quality of life.

At Liv Hospital, the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is more than just an endoscopy clinic. We are a comprehensive “Digestive Disease Center” dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract and liver. We have moved beyond the era of simply diagnosing problems; today, we fix them. Using advanced Interventional Gastroenterology techniques, we can remove early-stage tumors, clear bile duct stones, and treat swallowing disorders entirely through an endoscope—without a single incision on your skin.

Whether you are seeking a routine cancer screening or a solution for a complex liver condition, our team combines academic expertise with the latest technology (like AI-assisted colonoscopy) to provide care that is safe, precise, and surprisingly comfortable.

What is Gastroenterology?

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders. It covers a massive territory, from the mouth to the anus, including the accessory organs that aid digestion.

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The Digestive Tract

GASTROENTEROLOGY
  • Esophagus: The swallowing tube (Reflux, Achalasia).
  • Stomach: The mixing chamber (Ulcers, Gastritis, Cancer).
  • Small Intestine: Where nutrients are absorbed (Celiac Disease, Crohn’s).
  • Colon and Rectum: Waste processing (Polyps, Colitis, Cancer).
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The Accessory Organs

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  • Liver (Hepatology): The body’s chemical factory (Hepatitis, Fatty Liver, Cirrhosis).
  • Pancreas: Produces enzymes and insulin (Pancreatitis, Cysts).
  • Gallbladder & Bile Ducts: Stores and transports bile (Stones, Blockages).

At Liv Hospital, our specialists are often sub-specialized. You might see a Hepatologist for your liver and an Interventional Endoscopist for your polyp removal. This ensures you are treated by a master of that specific organ.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Interventional Gastroenterology

The most significant advancement in our field is the ability to perform “surgery” from the inside. By passing specialized tools through the endoscope, we can treat conditions that previously required major open surgery.

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ERCP

  • The Problem: A gallstone slips out of the gallbladder and blocks the main bile duct, causing jaundice and severe infection (Cholangitis). Or, a tumor blocks the duct.
  • The Solution: We guide a scope down the throat into the small intestine. We locate the tiny opening of the bile duct (papilla), cut the muscle slightly, and use a basket to pull the stone out or place a stent to open the blockage.
  • The Benefit: No abdominal incision, immediate relief of jaundice, and often discharged the next day.

EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound)

  • The Tech: A standard endoscope only sees the surface of the stomach wall. An EUS scope has a mini-ultrasound probe at the tip.
  • The Vision: It allows us to see through the stomach wall to examine the pancreas, lymph nodes, and liver adjacent to it.
  • The Biopsy (FNA/FNB): If we see a suspicious mass in the pancreas, we can extend a needle from the scope to take a biopsy instantly. It is the gold standard for diagnosing Pancreatic Cancer.

ESD and EMR

  • The Revolution: In the past, a large polyp or early-stage stomach cancer meant removing part of the stomach surgically.
  • ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection): We inject fluid under the tumor to lift it, then use a tiny electric knife to “peel” the tumor off the muscle layer in one piece.
  • The Result: The organ is saved. You keep your stomach or colon intact, and the cancer is cured.

POEM

  • For Achalasia: A condition where the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus is too tight, preventing food from entering the stomach.
  • The Procedure: We tunnel through the lining of the esophagus and cut the tight muscle from the inside.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

How GI Conditions Are Diagnosed at Liv Hospital

Doctors use several tools to diagnose digestive conditions. Gastroscopy (for the upper GI tract) and colonoscopy (for the lower GI tract) let doctors see inside and take tissue samples. Capsule endoscopy, where you swallow a small camera, helps view the small intestine. Breath tests can find food intolerances or bacterial overgrowth.

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Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir Gastroenterology Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu Gastroenterology Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu Gastroenterology Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan Liv Hospital Topkapı Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan Gastroenterology Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal Liv Hospital Topkapı Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Reskan Altun Liv Hospital Ankara Prof. MD. Reskan Altun Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş Liv Hospital Gaziantep Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş Liv Hospital Samsun Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş Gastroenterology MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV Liv Bona Dea Hospital Bakü MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV Gastroenterology

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The "Artificial Intelligence" Endoscopy Suite

Colonoscopy is the most effective cancer prevention tool in medicine, but it relies on the human eye. At Liv Hospital, we augment human skill with AI.

  • CAD EYE™ Technology: As the camera moves through the colon, an Artificial Intelligence system scans every pixel in real-time. If it spots a polyp (which can be flat and hard to see), it highlights it on the screen with a blue box and alerts the doctor.
  • The Impact: This technology increases the “Adenoma Detection Rate” (ADR). Finding more polyps means preventing more cancers.
  • Comfort Sedation: We perform procedures under Deep Sedation (TIVA) administered by an anesthesiologist. You are not “awake but numb”; you are asleep. You wake up in the recovery room with no memory of the procedure and no pain.
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Treatment and Management

Specialized Clinics for Chronic Conditions

Digestive diseases are often chronic. We offer dedicated clinics to manage them long-term.

IBD Center (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

For patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

  • Goal: Mucosal Healing (no ulcers visible).
  • Therapies: We use the latest Biologic drugs (Anti-TNF, Anti-Integrin) and small molecules (JAK inhibitors) to induce and maintain remission.

Motility and Reflux Center

For heartburn (GERD), constipation, and swallowing issues.

  • pH-Metry: Measuring acid levels in the esophagus over 24 hours to confirm reflux.
  • Manometry: Measuring the pressure and coordination of the esophageal muscles. Crucial before any reflux surgery.

Pancreatic Cyst Clinic

Incidental cysts are often found on MRI scans. Most are benign, but some are pre-cancerous (IPMN). We use EUS and cyst fluid analysis to determine which ones need surgery and which can be safely watched.

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Recovery and Prevention

Why Choose Liv Hospital for Gastroenterology?

  1. Safety First: Endoscopes are complex instruments that are hard to clean. We use hospital-grade Automated Endoscope Reprocessors (AER) that wash and sterilize scopes at high temperatures. We track every scope electronically to ensure 100% sterility for every patient.
  2. The “One-Stop” Concept: In many countries, you wait weeks for a consult, then months for a scope. At Liv Hospital, we can often arrange your consultation, blood work, and endoscopy/colonoscopy within 48 hours.
  3. Cancer Screening Packages: For international patients, we offer “Gastro-Check” packages that combine Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy in a single sedation session, saving you time and cost.
  4. Multidisciplinary Tumor Board: If cancer is found, your case is immediately discussed by the GI Tumor Council (Surgeon, Oncologist, Radiologist, Gastroenterologist) to plan the best treatment.

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Related Doctors

Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir Gastroenterology Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı Liv Hospital Ulus Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay Liv Hospital Vadistanbul Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu Gastroenterology Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu Gastroenterology Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan Liv Hospital Topkapı Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan Gastroenterology Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal Liv Hospital Topkapı Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Reskan Altun Liv Hospital Ankara Prof. MD. Reskan Altun Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş Liv Hospital Ankara Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş Gastroenterology Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş Liv Hospital Gaziantep Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş Gastroenterology Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş Liv Hospital Samsun Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş Gastroenterology MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV Liv Bona Dea Hospital Bakü MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV Gastroenterology

30 Years of
Excellence

Trusted Worldwide

With patients from across the globe, we bring over three decades of medical

Group 346 LIV Hospital

Reviews from 9,651

4,9

Worth a look

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Departments
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News

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is a colonoscopy painful?

No. At Liv Hospital, it is performed under Deep Sedation (Propofol). You will be asleep. You will not feel the tube, the air, or the biopsy. Most patients wake up asking, “Is it over already?”

The “bowel prep” (cleaning the colon) is the hardest part for most people.

  • Old Way: Drinking 4 liters of salty, bad-tasting liquid.

Liv Way: We use modern, low-volume prep solutions (often just 2 glasses split into two doses) combined with plenty of clear water or juice. It is much easier to tolerate.

Yes. This is called a “Double Balloon” or simply “Double Procedure.” It is very common. You receive one sedation, and we check both the stomach (upper) and colon (lower) in the same session. It takes about 30–40 minutes total.

  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome): A functional disorder. The gut looks normal on camera, but functions poorly (pain, diarrhea/constipation) due to sensitive nerves. It does not cause permanent damage.

IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease): A structural disease (Crohn’s/Colitis). The immune system attacks the gut, causing ulcers and bleeding. It requires strong medication to prevent damage.

No. Diagnostic endoscopy and most therapeutic procedures (like polyp removal or stone removal) are performed through natural body openings (mouth or anus). There are no external cuts and no external scars.

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Our Doctors

Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Altay Kandemir

Liv Hospital Ulus
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Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. İrfan Koruk

Liv Hospital Ulus
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Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Binnur Pınarbaşı

Liv Hospital Ulus
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Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Erdem Koçak

Liv Hospital Vadistanbul
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Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Eylem Karatay

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Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu Gastroenterology

Spec. MD. Fatih Ensaroğlu

Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir
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Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu Gastroenterology

Spec. MD. İhsan Habiboğlu

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Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan Gastroenterology

Assoc. Prof. MD. Çağdaş Erdoğan

Liv Hospital Topkapı
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Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal Gastroenterology

Assoc. Prof. MD. Genco Gençdal

Liv Hospital Topkapı
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Prof. MD. Reskan Altun Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Reskan Altun

Liv Hospital Ankara
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Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş Gastroenterology

Spec. MD. Zeliha Sırtaş

Liv Hospital Ankara
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Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş Gastroenterology

Prof. MD. Muhammet Cemil Savaş

Liv Hospital Gaziantep
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Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş Gastroenterology

Spec. MD. Özgür Ecemiş

Liv Hospital Samsun
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MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV Gastroenterology

MD. KAMAL EHMEDOV

Liv Bona Dea Hospital Bakü
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