VIAREGGIO. Starting in December, Dr Federico Corti, head of Gastroenterology dell’Versilia hospitalis officially retired from the ASL. «But I will continue to follow the patients», assures Dr. Corti, one of the historical directors of the Lido di Camaiore hospital. And certainly among the professionals who have made the services an excellence of Tuscan healthcare.
The activity of the now former head physician will continue in the private sector, in the centres Larger Campus in Camaiore and Lido, and al Health center in Pietrasanta: «But there is the possibility, together with the ASL management, of taking on a temporary position – reveals Doctor Corti – Giving my support to the hospital with regards to hepatology (liver diseases, ndr) and liver transplant recipients.”
These are sectors in which Gastroenterology is a point of reference for the area, not just Versilia: consequently the professionals who remain – four doctors – may need a transition period to manage their workloads. «In our department, which has 16 inpatient beds – continues the doctor from Viareggio – we are very busy with liver diseases, cirrhosis, metabolic disorders (which cause diabetes and obesity) and with transplant recipients, who are very complex and fragile patients. We follow 180 people post-liver transplant: we are the center that follows the most patients, especially from Versilia and Massa Carrara, but also some from Lucca and Liguria.”
Versilia Gastroenterology has “built” itself over the years: for over ten years it has been a complex operational unit that goes beyond the performance of colonoscopies and gastroscopies. «There is a set of broader interventions, also linked to the increase in gastrointestinal pathologies that must be followed and monitored. A phenomenon also due to the increase in stress and poor nutrition – explains Corti – Over time we have become a reference center for chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, treated with particular biological drugs. This type of pathology is on the increase because it is related to stress, tension and the Western diet, which is low in fiber and high in fat. We follow over 500 people with these chronic conditions. There has certainly also been an increase in diagnostic capacity. And we must consider that the gastrointestinal system is the part of our body which, after the brain, has the greatest number of nerve cells.”
The treatments can be variable: ranging from drug therapies to specific diets, «for example on gastroesophageal reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. Food intolerances and allergies, intestinal alterations and swelling are also increasingly frequent.” Particular attention is also paid to pancreatic diseases, «with cysts and insufficiencies and acute pancreatitis due to alcohol and drugs. This results in chronic inflammation that must be treated with therapies.” As regards tumor diseases of the digestive system – continues Corti – «even in this case we notice an increase in cases, especially on the pancreas and liver. There are various hypotheses on the causes: exposure to toxic substances or pollutants; but poor nutrition, particularly red meat and alcohol abuse are also potential factors.”
In the Versilia department, advanced therapies and diagnostic tools have been made available, such as breath tests that allow you to blow and discover any lactose intolerance. Or the video endocapsule which can replace colonoscopy: «We use it for hemorrhages that we cannot identify – explains Corti – and there are also new techniques for studying the esophagus and in particular reflux». The issue of waiting lists needs to be resolved, due to the many requests from patients. And also for this reason we are trying to set up a possible future collaboration between the now former head doctor and the Gastroenterology department.
