The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Sciences

Gut health or digestive wellbeing is the first step towards an assurance that your body is functioning at its optimum level. This primary medical speciality that deals with digestive health care is Gastroenterology which is further classified into Medical Gastroenterology and Surgical Gastroenterology.

A chief and crucial study in medicine, Gastroenterology deals extensively with the functions, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions related to mouth, organs of alimentary canal – esophagus, stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, bile ducts and liver.

Food is important for our survival but if the digestive health compromises, it can lead to various ailments disturbing quality of life, even on a regular basis. Complete digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, excretion of wastes are extremely crucial for staying strong, building immunity for leading a happy life. Gastroenterology in the recent years grew leaps and bounds with highly sophisticated medical advancements getting initiated into the treatment arena of health conditions plaguing liver, pancreas, digestive system and cancer.

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Sciences, at the Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru offers advanced medical care, accurate diagnosis through non-invasive, minimally invasive methods for faster recovery.

What Is Medical Gastroenterology?

Gastroenterologists:

Medical gastroenterology deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of health issues affecting the digestive system and liver. An expert gastroenterologist treats disorders like acid reflux, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis C, polyps, jaundice, chronic haemorrhoids, jaundice etc., Besides diagnosis, a medical gastroenterologist also performs biopsies, endoscopic examinations and treatments for other broad range of conditions.

What Is Hepatology?

Hepatology is study of medicine with deals with the study of liver, pancreas, bile ducts and gall bladder. Hepatologists are medical experts who diagnose and treat ailments affecting these organs whereas surgeons perform liver, pancreas transplants on those patients suffering from the failure or end stage dysfunction of the same.

Conditions, Treatments and Procedures:

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Sciences, at the Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru provides extensive, complete and comprehensive high-end care for a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, liver and biliary disorders guided and monitored by qualified, highly experienced team of Gastroenterologists, surgical gastroenterologists, hepatologists, bariatric surgeons. They are supported by the state-of-art technology diagnostic facilities, operation theatres equipped with advanced equipment, round-the-clock post-operative care services and the department ensures timely follow-ups post discharge.

Acute/Life Threatening Conditions:

Acute Liver Failure:

Acute liver failure can happen at any time, where the functioning of the organ compromises rapidly. In most cases, it is due to hepatitis virus, certain drugs and if not treated on time, may turn fatal.

GI Bleed:

Gastrointestinal Bleeding is a disorder of the digestive tract often caused due to many reasons including haemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, swelling of the esophagus, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, polyps, etc. The blood can be seen in vomit or in stools and needs immediate medical attention.

Acute Pancreatitis:

Inflammation of the pancreas can be a sudden occurrence and often starts with severe stomach pain. Patients with gallstones and alcoholics are prone to acute pancreatitis.

Acute Colitis:

Acute or ulcerative colitis is caused due to ulcerative sores affecting the inner lining of large intestine and rectum. Symptoms may appear suddenly with blood in stools, abdominal, rectal pain, weight loss and fatigue.

Biliary Sepsis:

Sepsis infection in the biliary appears suddenly without any symptoms. It presents with excruciating pain in upper right abdomen, back pain, nausea and vomiting. If not treated aggressively, biliary sepsis is a potentially fatal condition.

Diagnostic Procedures:

Endoscopies:

Endoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure in which tissue samples are collected to determine the causes behind anemia, inflammation, bleeding and cancers affecting the digestive system. Here are a few endoscopy procedures offered at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru.

Gastroscopy:

Gastroscopy also known as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube – an endoscope is passed for looking inside the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to diagnose gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Duodenoscopy:

Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy also referred as EGD, is a non-surgical procedure where upper gastrointestinal tract and first portion of the small intestine known as duodenoscopy for diagnosing and treating the problems.

Enteroscopy:

In enteroscopy, a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera at the end is used for examining the small bowel. Single balloon enteroscopy, Double balloon enteroscopy and Spiral enteroscopy are three common procedures where the problem is diagnosed for further treatment.

Colonoscopy:

Colonoscopy is conducted for detecting any changes or diagnosing any abnormal growth in the large intestine or in rectum. Colonscope, a long, thin flexible tube with a camera at the tip is inserted, allowing the expert to view inside the colon.

Endoscopic Ultrasound:

Endoscopic Ultrasound is a minimally invasive procedure that is done by using high-frequency sound waves for producing the detailed images of the digestive tract, pancreas, liver and lymph nodes and is done to detect diseases and abnormalities in digestive tract.

Capsule Endoscopy:

One of the advanced diagnostic procedures, Capsule Endoscopy is done by using a tiny wireless camera which processes the images of digestive tract via the recorder around the waist. The tiny camera is introduced into the body through a capsule which is swallowed and it leaves body within a week and can be safely flushed. The expert doctor would assess the picture for diagnosing the problem.

ERCP:

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography or ERCP is prescribed for diagnosing the ailments related to gallbladder, biliary system, liver and pancreas. It is also done to correct issues related to bile ducts and pancreas as well.

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Sciences, at the Hiranandani Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, also offers a wide range of treatment procedures including:

Polypectomies:

Removal of benign polyps through a colonoscopy or open abdominal surgery.

Variceal Banding:

Variceal banding is a procedure where the expert surgeon through an endoscope positions an elastic ring that looks like a rubber band around the enlarged vein for preventing internal bleeding.

Liver Transplant:

Liver transplantation or hepatic transplantation is an operation where a diseased liver is replaced with a whole or part of someone else’s normal and healthy liver. At Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road we have a highly skilled and an experienced Liver Transplant Team. Click Here to Meet the Liver Transplant Team To learn more about Liver Transplant, CLICK HERE.