The clinical launches a unit of disorders functional of the tract digestive
in addition to health care, activity is an important work of research with 19 projects in progress.
-Unit will address a group of diseases that affect 40% of the population
-functional disorders of the digestive system are diseases of which the cause is not known
Spain, August of 2011- the service of digestive of the Hospital ClÃnico San Carlos, directed by Dr. Manuel DÃaz-Rubio, it has launched a drive to the study, treatment and research of functional disorders of the digestive system, a group of chronic digestive problems that affect 40% of the population.
Functional digestive disorders represent a group of diseases of which the cause is not known and attributed to alterations in the control of the neuron or muscle activity that govern the functioning of the digestive tract. These pathologies include the Irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, functional dyspepsia, chronic constipation, functional abdominal pain syndrome and abdominal distention. The most common is the Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic disease that affects more than four million and a half of Spaniards, and it is one of the most frequent causes of consultation to gastroenterologists. Followed in importance by functional dyspepsia, which is a chronic disorder that prevents and hinders the complete digestion, and reflux GERD, a condition in which backward gastric juices containing acid from the stomach into the esophagus and in the most serious cases can lead to cancer.
Social and economic impact
Functional digestive disorders have a significant impact on people with them, because their causes limitations in daily activity, both in their working life and the enjoyment of their leisure activity, with the consequent decline in the quality of life. Coexistence with other problems such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress, which often makes complex treatment of these patients is also frequent. Therefore the aforementioned unit professionals work coordination with specialists in other departments and units of the Hospital.
On the other hand, there are a small number of patients with functional digestive disorders severe requiring specific attention and that are also addressed in this new unit of the Hospital ClÃnico San Carlos.
The factors that cause these disorders are many, which generally requires to perform a large number of diagnostic tests to be able to introduce appropriate treatment in each case. In addition, occasionally the diagnosis is based on the study of symptoms that they have no detectable alterations in analytical or radiological testing.
Research and teaching work
There are many gaps there in the knowledge of these problems, both as regards their cause in the therapeutic possibilities. Therefore, at the time engaged in the care work, the specialists of this unit have a special concern for raising awareness of these diseases and put at the disposal of patients advances occurring in the treatment. Why are developing various research lines aimed both to study the impact of these problems in the population at the clinic, and the development of new methods for the study of these patients and evaluation of specific instruments to investigate these issues and their impact.
Currently the ClÃnico San Carlos unit develops 19 research projects; nine of them focused primarily in the area of the reflux GERD and its relationship with food, pregnancy, and obesity as associated factors. It also investigates the Gerd does not respond to conventional treatments, and functional heartburn. A total of 7 projects have been initiated to study the Irritable bowel syndrome, and the other 3 projects are related to chronic constipation.
The teaching work of this unit is of great importance for it professionals that, in addition to train medical residents, organized courses for other specialists in order to address the effective health care models to treat these pathologies.
