digestion

What is a colon resection? Colon resection surgery (colectomy) removes a length of intestine that is diseased or dead, and then re-connects the severed ends to each other or to an ostomy in the abdomen attached to a colostomy bag to catch feces.. Colon resection (colectomy) is the surgical removal of part or all of …

What are interferons and how do they work? Interferons are a family of naturally-occurring proteins that are made and secreted by cells of the immune system (for example, white blood cells, natural killer cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells). Three classes of interferons have been identified: alpha, beta, and gamma. Each class has many effects, though their effects overlap. Commercially available …

What is an exploratory laparotomy? An exploratory laparotomy involves opening the abdominal cavity to see the extent of damage inside, remove any leaking gastric contents and fix injuries. This is often done in trauma emergencies, but also for some bowel cancers, depending on their progression. An exploratory laparotomy is an open surgical procedure for visual examination of the abdominal organs, …

What is an esophageal manometry? Esophageal manometry uses pressure sensors to test the function of the muscles in the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat and the stomach. The esophagus moves the food down to the stomach with wave-like contractions initiated by swallowing. This process is known as peristalsis. A valve-like ring of muscles at …

What is EGD? Pictured is a lighted camera called an endoscope used for the EGD (upper endoscopy) diagnostic procedure. EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is a procedure for examining the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A flexible tube with a lighted camera (endoscope) is introduced through the mouth or nose passing through the esophagus and stomach up to the top part of the small …

What is a hiatal hernia (definition)? Readers Comments 79 Share Your Story Hiatal hernia can cause esophageal pain. The esophagus connects the throat to the stomach. It passes through the chest and enters the abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. The term hiatal hernia describes a condition where the upper part of the stomach that …

What should you know about heartburn? A Woman with Heartburn Symptoms Heartburn is a symptom that feels like a burning in your chest, and is a symptom of acid reflux (GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease). Do most people get heartburn? Heartburn is more common during pregnancy. Most people get heartburn after meals, but can also awaken people while they are sleeping. …

What are oral digestive enzymes? Oral digestive enzymes are complex proteins naturally produced by the body to help digest and breakdown the foods we eat. The pancreas is the organ responsible for making and secreting digestive enzymes. Oral digestive enzymes are used when the pancreas is unable to produce enough digestive enzymes. The main digestive enzymes are: Proteases for digesting …

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) definition and facts Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Picture of SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. SIBO can be considered to be of two types. One is associated with identifiable diseases or conditions of the intestines. The other is not. SIBO of either type can give rise to …

What are anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs? How do they work (mechanism of action)? Anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs include a broad class of medications that are used to treat various medical conditions that involve contraction and relaxation of muscles. Examples of these conditions include overactive bladder, muscle spasms, breathing problems, diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramps, movement disorders, and others. Anticholinergics work by blocking …