Clinic for Functional Digestive Disorders

Doctor:
Barbora Kašperová, MD

Address:
Jelšová 1, 831 01 Bratislava
+421 950 594 700

Functional digestive disorders are chronic, recurrent gastrointestinal disorders in which the cause of the disease has not been clearly established by available routine examinations. The most common functional digestive disorder is irritable bowel syndrome. According to recent research, 60-70% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome have pathological changes in the microflora, classified as a bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO). This is an increased amount of bacteria in the small intestine or a disturbed composition of bacterial strains, which causes digestive disorders and, in more severe cases, impairs the function of other organs. Treatment of SIBO requires an individualized approach and a search for the underlying cause, as up to 2/3 of patients relapse after treatment with antibiotics. The clinic is designed for patients with dyspeptic complaints such as bloating, diarrhea/constipation, abdominal cramps associated with food, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, and other reactions to food.

Breath tests to rule out hydrogen and methane SIBO, assessment of symptoms using questionnaires, blood and stool samples are used for diagnosis.
Treatment includes: dietary changes, regimens, antibiotics and supportive therapy (e.g. digestive enzymes, prokinetics, antihistamines).

An outpatient clinic is not a substitute for a gastroenterological evaluation; on the contrary, it is desirable for patients to be followed up by a gastroenterologist to rule out other serious causes of dyspepsia.

The initial examination in the outpatient clinic for functional digestive disorders includes:
Interview with the patient to obtain necessary information
Evaluation of a pre-completed questionnaire
Review of medical records
Basic physical examination
Suggestion of further diagnostic procedures (e.g. additional laboratory blood tests, stool tests, breath tests, ultrasound)

Outpatient follow-up for functional digestive disorders includes:
Evaluation of the diagnostic procedures performed as suggested during the initial examination
Suggestions for treatment
Suggestion for further follow-up or diagnostic testing

During further follow-up visits, the physician will evaluate the results and effectiveness of the treatment, suggest possible changes in treatment, dietary measures, or further diagnostic procedures.