Internal Medicine

In Turkey, institutions like Biruni Hospital uphold high standards in any medical field, and especially the most modern and highly advanced treatments and procedures.

One of the most common specialties at our hospital is internal medicine. This highly unique procedure is the core of adult healthcare. The procedure focuses mainly on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various illnesses and diseases.

What is internal medicine?

Internal medicine serves as the foundation of adult healthcare. It focuses on precise diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases that affect your internal organs.

Internists, also known as specialists in internal medicine, are trained to manage complex and multisystem diseases with a holistic, long-term approach.

The core aspects of internal medicine:

• Preventive care: The doctor works on identifying all of the risk factors. After that, they apply preventive strategies to avoid any type of disease development or progression.
  
• Chronic disease management: This focuses mainly on medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
  
• Multisystem expertise: The specialist doctors, also known as "internists," are highly trained to understand how various organ systems interact, enabling them to detect and treat any condition.
  

What are the types of internal medicine?

Internal medicine includes several subspecialties that focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Common types include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, and hematology. Each area addresses specific organ systems or conditions within adult health care.

Rheumatology

Rheumatology is a branch of internal medicine that mainly focuses on diagnosing and treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that affect the joints, muscles, and connective tissues.

These conditions often involve chronic inflammation and immune system dysfunction, such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
  
• Ankylosing spondylitis
  
• Vasculitis
  

Procedural and Management aspects:

• The doctor will check the patient's medical history and symptom mapping.
  
• They will also perform a full musculoskeletal examination and blood tests such as ANA, ESR, CRP.
  
• After that comes the imaging part. The doctor will use X-rays, MRI, and ultrasound of joints to have a better idea about the condition.
  
• A vital and very important step in this treatment is synovial fluid aspiration and analysis.
  
• After the treatment is done, the doctor will give you a long-term immunosuppressive therapy plan to ensure a healthy healing.
  
• During this period, the doctor will also monitor your biologic therapy and provide you with the best pain management plan that works for you.
  

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is the internal medicine subspecialty that deals with the digestive system. This includes : 

• The esophagus
  
• Stomach
  
• Intestines
  
• Liver
  
• Gallbladder
  
• Pancréas
  

The procedure is aimed at treating a large variety of disorders such as:

• Irritable bowel syndrome
  
• Crohn’s disease
  
• Ulcerative colitis
  
• Liver cirrhosis
  
• Pancreatitis
  
• Gastrointestinal cancers
  

Procedural and management aspects:

• During your first appointment, the doctor will do a full medical history review, including your dietary habits and GI symptoms, along with a physical examination that focuses on abdominal findings.
  
• The second test that the doctor will perform is a blood test to check if you have medical issues such as liver enzymes, pancreatic markers, and inflammatory markers.
• After that, we move on to the endoscopy treatment, such as upper GI, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy.
  
• Biopsy of suspicious tissues comes right after. This is done to determine whether the tissue is cancerous or not.
  
• Imaging: CT, MRI, ultrasound, and MRCP for biliary structures
  

Hematology

Hematology is a treatment that mainly focuses on blood and blood-forming organs. This treatment is also perfect for dealing with disorders such as:

• Anemia
  
• Leukemia
  
• Lymphoma
  
• Hemophilia
  
• Clotting disorders
  

Hematologists play a vital role in cancer diagnostics, transfusion medicine, and bone marrow function analysis.

Procedural and management aspects:

• After the initial testing, a complete blood count and blood smear analysis are done by the doctor.
  
• The doctor will also perform a bone-marrow aspiration and biopsy and coagulation studies like a PT, aPTT, and INR.
  
• The surgeon will also check for any blood disorders by performing genetic testing.
  
• Flow cytometry and immunophenotyping are highly important to check for diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as a full iron study and vitamin deficiency assessments to see how healthy you are.
  

After the procedure, the doctor will perform:

• Chemotherapy planning and monitoring
  
• Blood transfusion coordination
  
• Anticoagulation management
  
• Stem cell transplant preparation and aftercare
  

Endocrinology

Endocrinology is a treatment that deals with disorders of the endocrine glands and hormones including:

• Diabetes
  
• Thyroid diseases
  
• Adrenal disorders
• Pituitary dysfunctions
  
• Metabolic syndromes
  

Endocrinologists usually require a detailed metabolic evaluation and long-term treatment plans. This is done so that the doctor can best manage the conditions that may affect multiple organs through hormonal imbalances.

Procedural and management aspects:

• The doctor will perform a full hormonal profile testing. This includes a thyroid panel, cortisol, insulin, and sex hormones testing.
  
• The second type of testing that the doctor will perform is dynamic endocrine function testing.
  
• Continuous glucose monitoring and insulin therapy planning are highly important.
  

After the procedure, the doctor will help with:

• Medication management such as thyroid hormones, insulin, and hormone replacement
  
• Lifestyle changes and all weight management programs with the help of your dietitian
  

The recovery, healing, and full postoperative period after an internal medicine procedure

Recovery after an internal medicine procedure is a vital part of treatment. It involves careful monitoring, medication adjustments, and lifestyle support to ensure proper healing. Below is a summary of what to expect during both the short-term and long-term recovery phases

The short-term healing period

This stage focuses on immediate recovery, symptom management, and getting your body stabilized.

• Monitoring and observation 

 After the procedure, your doctor will closely monitor your vital signs, organ function, and treatment responses, especially after a major diagnostic like a biopsy or endoscopy.

The doctor will also inform you of the side effects. Some of them are fatigue, discomfort, and allergic reactions.

• Medication adjustment

The doctor will provide you with all the necessary medications. They will also alter their dosages based on your lab results or treatment response. Make sure to always track how you feel and report any major discomfort.

• Dietary and lifestyle modification

 With the help of your doctor and dietitian, you will prepare a meal plan that is best suited for your healing period.

The doctor will provide you with tailored guidance specific to you based on the condition of your organs and how well you respond to the treatment.

Follow-up appointments

The most important part of your healing journey is keeping up with your post-operative appointments with your doctor. During these postoperative meetings, the doctor will make some adjustments to your treatment and monitor your healing closely.

The long-term healing period

This phase supports lasting health improvements, chronic condition control, and long-term wellness.

• Chronic condition monitoring

 Keep in mind that the internal medicine procedure often manages lifelong conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and autoimmune disorders.

This means that regular lab work, physical exams, and specialists are essential for a smooth healing process.

• Rehabilitation and recovery programs

 For cases like cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease, recovery may involve rehabilitation, exercise therapy, or dietetics support. Routine assessments with your doctor will help support your functional recovery.

• Treatment optimization

 Over time, medications and procedures are fine-tuned. This is done to allow for maximum effectiveness with minimal side effects. The doctor usually reassesses your treatment plans based on your healing progress.

• Preventive surveillance

 Post-operative appointments with your doctor are going to be vital to help detect early signs of complications or those related to your conditions.

Moving forward with confidence and care

 Internal medicine stands at the core of adult healthcare. It is characterized by the top medical professionals in the world as a top-of-the-line and highly advanced treatment for various types of diseases.