Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver

The aim of the authors has been to provide a clinically orientated text, based on a consensus between a rapidly expanding and often confusing medical literature and the practical experience of the contributors. Concentrating on gastrointestinal and liver diseases in adults, the book is designed for physicians in training, general medical practitioners and surgeons with a special interest in this topic and gastroenterologists. The book initially describes the important principles of investigational procedures and their main indications and complications are described and are related to the specialty as a whole. Thereafter the chapters follow a conventional order, but with close integration of diseases of the liver with those of the pancreas and biliary tree. This edition reflects the increasing importance of surgery to the development of gastroenterology and hepatology and to its clinical implementation. The chapter on imaging has been expanded and other changes reflect increasing knowledge of pancreatic diseases, the success of liver transplantation and the need to include paediatric diseases. The authors have tried to provide extensive cross-referencing which includes historical, research and clinical papers as well as review articles, monographs and books.