Gastroenterology Conditions

Gastroenterology diseases and conditions can result from an improper diet and an unhealthy lifestyle. At UPMC, we offer a multidisciplinary team of specialists experienced in the management of these diagnoses in both adult and pediatric patients.

Book an Appointment

UPMC offers services for the diagnosis and treatment of Gastroesophageal conditions at the following facility:

• IRCCS ISMETT – UPMC.
• UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital.

Pathologies Treated

• Gastroesophageal reflux in adults: This occurs when the valve between the esophagus and stomach fails to prevent the gastric juice from rising to the mouth and causes the formation of small burns in the lining of the esophagus. Continuous irritation causes a chronic inflammatory state, called esophagitis. If this condition persists for a long time, the cells of the normal lining are replaced by others, similar to those of the stomach. This pathology ("Barret's esophagus"), constitutes in its most severe form a precancerous, which in about 5% of cases can give rise to a carcinoma of the esophagus.
• Gastroesophageal reflux in the child: This is generally referred to as regurgitation, with small amounts of milk leaking out of the mouth after feeding. Other times it can manifest itself with vomiting, with the expulsion of a good part of the consumed material.
• Hiatal hernia: This occurs when the opening that allows the passage of the esophagus (esophageal hiatus) widens, causing the progressive displacement of part of the stomach into the chest.
• Adult achalasia: This is a motor disorder of the lower esophageal sphincter, that is, of the valve that is located between the esophagus and stomach, and that prevents the gastric contents from reaching the stomach. In this case, the sphincter that is normally released during swallowing, allowing the food bolus to reach the stomach, is not able to release itself. The esophagus, not being able to empty, then expands.
• Child achalasia: Almost 5% of children with achalasia experience symptoms before the age of 15. If left untreated, achalasia causes a progressive dilation of the esophagus, resulting in the risk of aspiration in the airways, weight loss, and malnutrition.
• Inguinal hernia: This is the most frequent type of hernia. It manifests itself in the groin region, a small area of the lower abdomen, between the abdominal region and the lower extremities. It is more frequent in men than in women, since they have a much smaller inguinal canal.
• Sportsman's hernia: This is a lesion of the soft tissues of the groin region that occurs as a result of exertion and mainly affects people who practice sports. It is located above the inguinal ligament and is usually unilateral, but can also be bilateral. The most affected muscles are often the oblique ones of the lower abdomen and the tendons that fit on the pubic bone, particularly sensitive, risk stretching or tearing.
• Umbilical hernia: This is the leakage of some viscera from the umbilical scar.
• Laparocele: This is a hernia of the abdominal wall that arises from a previous surgical scar. It is a rather frequent pathology and affects 20% of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. In recent years, however, this incidence has decreased thanks to the advent of laparoscopic surgery, which allows most interventions to be carried out with minimal incisions.
• Rare hernia: This is formed in the abdomen, high above the groin region, at the point where the wide muscles of the abdomen cross the rectus muscles (in the center). Often the hernia is not very visible because it remains in the thickness of the abdominal wall. Despite this, it can still cause well-localized pain in a space between the navel and the anterosuperior iliac spine (upper hip).
• Crural hernia: Also known as a "femoral hernia", this is an abdominal hernia that consists of the leakage of part of the bowels of the abdomen through muscle weaknesses in the area between the pubis and the femur (crural ring).