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- $Unique_ID{BRK01422}
- $Pretitle{Digestive System}
- $Title{Would a Doctor be Able to Treat Hiatus Hernia With a Stethoscope?}
- $Subject{hernia hiatus hiatal treatment digestive system stethoscope endoscope
- visualizing hollow organs gi bleeding sclerosing endoscopy esophageal
- gastrointestinal ulcer peptic ulcers antacids stomach acid visualize organ
- bleed sclerose esophagus}
- $Volume{I-10}
- $Log{
- Anatomy of a Hiatal Hernia*0008701.scf
- Hiatal Hernia with Ulcers*0008801.scf
- Diseases of the Esophagus*0016801.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Would a Doctor be Able to Treat Hiatus Hernia With a Stethoscope?
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-
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-
- QUESTION: If a person had a hiatus hernia, that was also said to be bleeding,
- would a doctor be able to treat this with a stethoscope? The answer to this
- question is very important to me, so please answer it.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: No, a stethoscope can only listen to sounds in the body, but an
- instrument called an endoscope is used in medicine today for visualizing the
- interior of hollow organs. And in the case of upper GI bleeding, for
- instance a hiatus hernia with accompanying ulcer located in the esophagus, a
- doctor might use an endoscopic procedure of injecting a sclerosing (hardening)
- solution in the area to stop the bleeding. He might repeat the procedure a
- few more times, all on an outpatient basis.
- In most cases of hiatus hernia, ulcers do not occur, but if they should,
- treatment is similar to that for peptic ulcers--antacids, as well as
- medication to prevent the formation of stomach acid. After trying endoscopy
- on an outpatient basis, a doctor might hospitalize a patient with esophageal
- bleeding. But do remember that in 80% of cases, upper GI bleeding stops
- spontaneously within four hours after a patient's being admitted to the
- hospital.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-