This fully revised new edition focuses on the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of conditions encountered by the coloproctologist and gastroenterological surgeon, who are faced with an increasing number of precise and specific treatment modalities.

The Scientification of Gastroenterology During the 20th Century * Science contributes to medicine in three ways: It provides a body of relatively secure knowl edge. Some of that knowledge has been applied to develop technologies which have had a major impact upon the practice and effectiveness of medicine. Last, science offers to medicine a way of thinking. - 1. McCormick [(1993) The Contribution of Science to Medicine. Perspect. Bioi. Med. 16,315.] Awareness of the digestive system began with the dawn of civilization, when man, observing the feeding habits of animals in the surrounding environment, experimented with foods, edible and inedible. Identity came with discoveries of the digestive organs during the 16th and 17th centuries. Function was revealed by physiologic studies of digestion, absorp tion and secretion, metabolism, and motility during the 18th and 19th centuries. Diagnostic access improved with the technological advances of the 20th century. Understanding of gas trointestinal (GI) disease followed the growth of the basic sciences and gastroenterology's involvement in scientific research during the latter half of the 20th century. Early in the 20th century, gastroenterology was yet an undefined activity without clinical or scientific guidelines. Diagnostic approach to the digestive tract was minimal. Valid con cepts of disease were lacking. Visceroptosis, sitophobia, and "colonic autointoxication" were common "diagnoses." Therapeutic resources were scarce.

Patients with perianal diseases such as dermatitis do not just visit the dermatologist; they are seen by family doctors, internists, pediatricians, general surgeons, gynecologists, and urologists. This book is truly multi-disciplinary, introducing the surgical specialties to medical proctology and related fields. The procedures described allow effective management of both common and less common diseases, including all the secondary problems that may arise. With increasing travel and increasing immunosuppression, parasitic intestinal diseases are now seen in every type of practice. The standard diagnostic procedures described herein reduce costs in therapy. This new reference in proctology and perianal skin disease gives detailed descriptions of clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment strategies. It will empower a wide variety of physicians to manage these disorders more effectively.

This fully revised new edition focuses on the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of conditions encountered by the coloproctologist and gastroenterological surgeon, who are faced with an increasing number of precise and specific treatment modalities.

Anorectal Disorders: Diagnosis and Nonsurgical Treatments incorporates the most recent major advances in the understanding of anal and rectal anatomy to provide clinical evidence of care for those suffering from anorectal disorders. By condensing basic and practical aspects in the knowledge of anorectal disorders, this book provides a comprehensive review of the anatomy and physiology of the anorectal region. It includes new technology that expands and modifies current perceptions about the functional anatomy of the anorectal region and ultimately impacts how we conceive muscle and nerve structures functioning together to maintain fecal continence and properly execute the process of defecation. Perfect for medical researchers, gastroenterologists, general practitioners, internal medicine doctors and general surgeons, this title will provide diagnosis and treatment options for all patients suffering from anorectal disorders. Identifies frequent, but not well understood, anorectal disorders, including ulcers, constipation, dyssynergic defecation, tumors and malformations Condenses the basic and practical aspects of anorectal disorders for better treatment of patients Includes clinical cases that summarize chapter content in a clinical context