The Department of Gastroenterology at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine has established subspecialties in gastrointestinal oncology, biliary and pancreatic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic liver disease, and esophageal and gastrointestinal motility disorders.

The department currently has a team of 29 physicians, including 6 with senior professional titles. We excel in the diagnosis and treatment of complex gastrointestinal diseases, severe acute pancreatitis, refractory Helicobacter pylori infections, and fatty liver disease. Our team is also highly skilled in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, biliary and pancreatic diseases (such as bile duct stones), achalasia, and small bowel diseases. Furthermore, the department is a member unit of the ERCP Specialist Alliance.

Departmental Specialties

1. Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Critical Gastrointestinal Diseases

At our Digestive Disease Center, our clinicians possess highly proficient endoscopic techniques and standardized clinical management skills. We can promptly and effectively handle acute and critical gastrointestinal conditions, including gastrointestinal foreign bodies, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute cholangitis, and acute pancreatitis, thereby reducing mortality rates and improving patient outcomes.

2. Systematic Diagnosis, Treatment, and Follow-up of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis and Colorectal Polyps, Precancerous Lesions, and Early Gastrointestinal Cancers

The progression from chronic atrophic gastritis or colorectal polyps to gastric mucosal dysplasia (medium- to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the colorectum), and subsequently to early gastric (or colorectal) cancer and advanced gastric (or colorectal) cancer, is a common pathway for gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Our center has a dedicated team specializing in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of precancerous lesions and early gastrointestinal cancers. We conduct timely screenings for high-risk populations and have mature expertise in magnification endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). These advanced techniques enable the endoscopic radical cure of precancerous lesions and select early cancers, minimizing surgical trauma, improving patients' quality of life, and significantly prolonging survival.

3. EUS and ERCP for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases

Both inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the biliary and pancreatic systems present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can detect conditions that are often missed by conventional imaging modalities, thereby enhancing detection and diagnostic rates.

4. Esophageal Motility and Manometry

For patients with esophageal motility disorders, refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), unexplained dysphagia, or functional gastrointestinal disorders, pharmacological therapy may sometimes yield suboptimal results or fail to provide a definitive diagnosis. Our center offers esophageal motility and manometry testing to accurately evaluate esophageal motor function, thereby assisting in the development of individualized treatment plans.

5. Standardized Medical Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

The incidence of IBD has been increasing year by year, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Our center is equipped with a dedicated IBD management team that excels in both precise diagnosis and effective treatment. We have established a systematic and standardized medical management protocol. Furthermore, through close multidisciplinary collaboration, we effectively improve diagnostic and therapeutic success rates, reduce healthcare expenditures, and significantly enhance patients' quality of life.

6. Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) Infection

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a Class I carcinogen, and its infection can lead to atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. In recent years, the rising rate of antibiotic resistance has made standardized Hp treatment profoundly significant. As a Provincial Standardized Hp Treatment Clinic, our center utilizes multiple diagnostic methods, including the urea breath test, active infection antibodies, Hp antibody typing, Hp culture with drug susceptibility testing, and Hp resistance gene detection. These advanced approaches are designed to maximize eradication rates. We also operate a specialized Hp infection clinic, which effectively improves the eradication success rate for Hp infections, particularly for refractory cases.