Digestive medicine is considered the largest field of Internal Medicine. The medical
specialists of the Digestive apparatus are in charge of detecting and treating all
pathologies that occur in the digestive tract and surrounding organs.
What is are the main techniques used by the Digestive apparatus specialist?
The digestive endoscopy is the main and the most effective diagnostic method of
digestive apparatus diseases.
Gastroscopy or upper digestive endoscopy allows us to examine the esophagus, the
stomach and also some parts of the duodenum. This method also allows for the
extraction of biopsy samples, diagnostics and some very important treatments, such as
the elimination of polyps and submucous dissections.
Another tool of digestive medicine is colonoscopy or the endoscopy of the colon. This
method allows for the examination of the entire colon, reaching the most profound and
hidden areas of the small intestine.
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second most frequently occurring type of cancer in women after
breast cancer and the second most frequently occurring type of cancer in men after
prostate cancer.
This type of cancer has the second highest mortality rate after lung cancer.
It is more prevalent in men – about 25% of men and about 15% of women over 50 years
of age develop polyps.
Detection and treatment of colon cancer
All colon cancer screening programs are highly important. They are designed for
early diagnosis of colon cancer which greatly improves the survival rate of patients, by
helping to detect and remove benign masses which as a result may prevent the
development of cancer.
The best diagnostic method for detection of any abnormalities in the colon is a
colonoscopy and a fecal occult blood test which is used to find blood in the feces, or
stool, which could be a sign of polyps or cancer.
Regular screening can help prevent colon cancer. It is recommended to have a
colonoscopy at least once every ten years. A fecal occult blood test is a life-long
program that is recommended for everyone over 50. This test should be carried out once
every year or two until the age of 70 or 75.
A fecal occult blood test should be done every year or two as it allows to detect inner
bleeding which may be a sign of polyps or other abnormalities. In case there is a
presence of blood in patient’s stool the colonoscopy must be carried out.
Intragastric balloon and Primary Endoluminal Obesity Surgery (POSE) method for obesity treatment
Intragastric balloon occupies space inside the stomach, while POSE method folds the
stomach in order to reduce its capacity.
In the end, the achieved result is similar – a patient reaches satiety faster while
consuming smaller amounts of food.
A fundamental difference is that POSE method allows for the reduction of the stomach
permanently, while intragastric balloons can be inserted for 6 to 12 months.
Why choose the services of the Digestive Apparatus in the Canaries?
The Digestive Apparatus services at THIS are offered by the Hospital San Juan de
Dios in Tenerife. Its team consists of highly qualified professionals with vast experience
in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system.
During a consultation or hospitalization patients receive personalized attention by the
specialists in gastroenterology. This center also offers an ample catalogue of additional
tests.
Complete service of medical tourism
Through our platform you can manage your flight and accommodation in Tenerife,
offered by a travel agency, Servicio de turismo integral, which for over 20 years has specialized in
medical tourism. We also provide assistance in organizing leisure time, translators and
interpreters, transfers, and anything else that our patients might require during their stay
in Tenerife.
Digestive Apparatus service at THIS
- General consultation with a digestive specialist
- Consultation of colorectal cancer screening
- Investigative consultation of inflammatory intestinal disease
- Non-surgical treatment of obesity
- Digestive day hospital (iron infusion treatment, biological treatments, etc)
Additional tests:
Upper digestive endoscopy (Gastroscopy)
Colonoscopy
Therapeutic endoscopy:
o Varicose veins treatment and sclerotherapy
o Gastrointestinal bleeding treatment with hemoclip, endoscopic
sclerotherapy and argon plasma coagulation
o Treatments of gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE)
o Stenosis dilatation
o Polypectomy
o Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)
Bariatric endoscopy (POSE method, Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, intragastric
balloon)
Endoscopic capsule (the study of diseases of the small intestine)
Digestive ultrasound
Elastography for assessing liver fibrosis and steatosis
Latest generation computerised tomography CT
Computed tomography (CT) colonography or virtual colonoscopy
MRI (latest generation magnetic resonance imaging, including enterography)
Conventional radiology
Interventional radiology
insertion of esophageal and colonic prosthetic devices
Laboratory of clinical analysis
EUROFINS LGS MEGALAB
Eurofins LGS Megalab is the largest private medical clinic in the Canary Islands in the field of blood tests. Founded in 1988, the clinic now has 35 centres in the Canary Islands and offers the highest levels of quality, privacy and efficiency.
It offers doctors and patients clinical and pathological analysis services, as well as the management of hemotherapy units. It also has an extensive catalogue of more than 3,500 tests.
