Treatment of the stomach and other digestive organs in Israel: which conditions gastroenterologists manage, which tests are ordered, when surgery is needed, what affects the cost and how to prepare for the trip.
Conditions treated
Gastroenterology departments in Israeli hospitals diagnose and treat diseases of the oesophagus, stomach, bowel, liver, bile ducts and pancreas. International patients most often come with:
- chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori infection;
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's oesophagus;
- Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis;
- polyps of the stomach and colon;
- cancer of the stomach, oesophagus, colon or pancreas;
- motility disorders, persistent abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosis
The scope of testing depends on the symptoms and earlier results. The main methods are:
- gastroscopy with biopsy to examine the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum;
- colonoscopy, with polyps removed during the same procedure;
- capsule endoscopy to view the small bowel;
- endoscopic ultrasound to assess how deep a lesion goes and whether nearby lymph nodes are involved;
- a breath test for Helicobacter pylori, pH monitoring and oesophageal manometry;
- CT, MRI and PET-CT when the extent of a tumour has to be established.
Endoscopy is usually done under sedation. If a biopsy was already taken at home, bring the slides and blocks: they may be reviewed again, which sometimes changes the diagnosis.
Treatment methods
Medication and endoscopic treatment
Ulcers and gastritis are treated with acid-suppressing drugs, and with a course of antibiotics when Helicobacter pylori is present. Inflammatory bowel disease is managed with anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and biologic medicines. Polyps and some early tumours are removed endoscopically, without incisions.
Surgery
Stomach and bowel operations are mostly performed laparoscopically when that is safe for the individual patient. For stomach cancer, part of the stomach or the whole organ is removed together with lymph nodes; the extent depends on the stage.
Stomach cancer treatment
The plan is drawn up by a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, surgeons and radiologists. Depending on the stage, surgery is combined with chemotherapy before and after the operation; for advanced disease, targeted drugs and immunotherapy are used when the tumour has the relevant markers. The outcome depends on the stage, so no clinic can guarantee a cure.
What affects the cost
The total depends on the scope of testing, the need for sedation or general anaesthesia, the type of operation, the length of the hospital stay and the medicines. Ask for a written estimate listing what is included and check what extra days or repeat procedures would cost. Accommodation, interpreting and transfers may be charged separately.
How to prepare for the trip
Send the clinic your reports, endoscopy and pathology results and scans; the doctor will say which tests need repeating. A diagnostic work-up usually takes a few days. If surgery is planned, ask in advance when you can fly home and who will follow you up after you return.
Frequently asked questions
Can gastroscopy and colonoscopy be done in one visit?
Often yes, under the same sedation. The doctor decides based on your condition.
Is gastroscopy painful?
With sedation the patient is usually asleep and feels no discomfort. You must not drive on the day of the procedure.
How long does the work-up take?
Mostly three to five days including the consultation and biopsy results; complex cases take longer.
Is surgery always needed for stomach cancer?
No. At an early stage endoscopic removal is sometimes enough, while for advanced disease drug therapy becomes the mainstay of treatment.
Need a stomach work-up or treatment abroad? Send a request and Clinics Direct medical coordinators will help you choose a clinic and find out the cost of tests and treatment free of charge.
