OVERVIEW

The Course covers all diseases of the digestive system, including liver and pancreatic diseases. Diseases of the digestive system represent an important, widespread and essential group of conditions linked to different causes, from those of a purely functional nature, to others underlying secretory-motor or chronic inflammatory alterations, up to pathologies with chronic-degenerative connotations and neoplastic ones.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main objective is to teach students the epidemiological characterization, the pathophysiological bases and the clinical characteristics of the main diseases of the digestive system and liver. In particular, the most common diseases of the upper and lower digestive tract will be treated, as well as chronic diseases of the liver, bile ducts and pancreas. At the end of the course, the student must therefore have acquired the knowledge necessary to plan an adequate diagnostic process and prognostic evaluation of these diseases, as well as knowledge of the principles of their treatment.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student, by attending frontal teaching activities and actively participating in theoretical-practical training activities, must be able to:

• know the pathophysiological bases underlying the main pathologies, both functional and organic, of the digestive tract and pancreas;
• know the anatomical-functional foundations underlying the biohumoral and clinical alterations present in acute and chronic liver diseases;
• know the pathophysiological bases underlying chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases, recognizing their clinical manifestations and setting the correct diagnostic and therapeutic path;
• know the fundamentals of diagnostic and therapeutic digestive endoscopy, when to use it, and the potential procedural complications;
• know the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, staging and treatment of the main tumoral pathologies of the digestive system.

The student, once acquired the knowledge of the core curriculum, will be able to:

• know how to evaluate the influence of the main environmental factors on the functionality of the organs constituting the digestive system;
• recognize the clinical relevance of a patient with a functional disorder compared to an organic digestive pathology by formulating a correct differential diagnosis;
• develop a correct diagnostic and therapeutic path in gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic disease;
• recognize the possible causes of esophageal dysmotility, a correct diagnostic and therapeutic path for the patient affected by this alteration;
• recognize the relevance of digestive system pathologies with eminent surgical management, also through an adequate diagnostic-differential path;
• have knowledge of the biohumoral and clinical alterations suggestive of the presence of acute and chronic liver disease, knowing how to formulate a diagnostic path that identifies both the severity and the etiology in order to reach an adequate nosological framework;
• be able to identify the presence of malnutrition, formulating a differential diagnosis including the interpretation of the presence of malabsorption and maldigestion;
• be able to recognize the different causes of possible bleeding of the digestive tract, formulating a differential diagnosis and an initial clinical evaluation aimed at identifying and managing the source of bleeding.
• know the main acute and chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases, providing a correct diagnostic process aimed at their screening, as well as having knowledge of the therapeutic cornerstones and adverse events of the therapies themselves;
• recommend the correct screening and surveillance process for colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma;

PREREQUISITES

In order to learn the concepts of diseases of the digestive system, knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathological anatomy of the digestive system and the glands connected to it, as well as the fundamentals of medical semiology, are fundamental prerequisites.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be based on frontal lessons and periods of practical teaching in small groups in the ward of the gastroenterology and hepatology unit of our hospital during 15 days each year.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to liase and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Know the demographic aspects of the main pathologies of the digestive system in Italy and in the EU, from the adolescent patient to the elderly patient, underlining the implications in the social and health field.

Know how to perform, with reference to international guidelines, the specific methods of clinical approach in the collection of anamnesis and objective examination in the gastroenterological patient.

Describe the peculiar aspects and address from a diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and surveillance point of view the morbid conditions that occur most frequently in the context of gastrointestinal disorders, both functional and organic, as well as the main pathologies of the liver and biliary tract, and of the pancreas. Recognize the indications for endoscopic procedures. Describe the main intestinal diseases, with particular attention to the identification of organic pathologies, such as Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Describe and illustrate the multiple clinical manifestations of advanced chronic liver disease, identifying the main etiopathogenetic factors and knowing how to provide adequate work-up.

Understand the impact of gastroenterological diseases on life expectancy and on the quality of life perceived by the patient.

Describe and illustrate lifestyles and the practical approach for the correct maintenance of the digestive system health; how to implement a preventive strategy and how to critically evaluate the approach to new therapeutic modalities in gastroenterology such as immunosuppressive therapies, endoscopic alternatives to surgical treatments.

Know the problems related to alcohol abuse and the use of drugs harmful to the digestive system.

Understand the interaction between mental disorders and the health status of the digestive system.

Communicate correctly with the patient affected by complex pathologies such as psychosomatic disorder, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, advanced liver disease and oncological disease.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

UNIGASTRO – Manuale di Gastroenterologia 2025-2028 – EGI Editrice

Sleisenger e Fordtran – Malattie gastrointestinali ed epatiche – EDRA 2018

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1th October - 20th December

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The questions will address the following points :

anatomy, epidemiology, pathophysiology, pathology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis and a small part of therapy of all digestive, hepatic and pancreatic disorders

FURTHER INFORMATION

Nothing