Core Adult Internal Medicine Disciplines

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Topics

• Assessment, investigation and management of heartburn, chest pain, dysphagia, persistent vomiting, dyspepsia.
  
• Diagnosis and management of oesophageal dysmotility, infections and reflux.
  
• Acute and chronic abdominal pain.
  
• Diagnosis and management of peptic ulcer: diagnostic features, including detection of Helicobacter Pylori; current regimens for eradication of Helicobacter Pylori; the use of H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
  
• Investigation and management of acute and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding.
  
• Coeliac disease; varied presentation in children and adults; role of diagnostic tests, including biopsy and serum antibodies; long-term treatment and potential complications.
  
• Presentation, investigation, diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal malignancy, including gastric, oesophageal, pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
  
• Inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; identification of patients with severe acute colitis; the importance of medical/surgical collaborative care.
  
• Irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel disease: frequency; typical symptoms.
  
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis: presentation and management: differential diagnosis of malabsorption syndromes, including breath gas analysis; risk factors; diagnostic methods and pancreatic function.
  
• Diarrhoea, GI infection and AIDS.
  
• Acute and chronic liver disease: common causes, investigation and management.
  
• Management of the complications of cirrhosis: ascites, encephalopathy, portal hypertension/varices.
  
• Hepatitis: viral hepatitis, prophylaxis and treatment.
  
• Immunological liver disease.
  
• Haemochromatosis.
  
• Knowledge of appropriate use of endoscopy, colonoscopy, hepatobiliary imaging and other diagnostic tests in gastrointestinal disease.
  
• Dietetic and nutrition services: principles of nutrition.

Practical Skills for all Trainees

• Performance of rigid proctosigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy.
  
• Paracentesis.
  
• Insertion of nasogastric tube.

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