Gall bladder is a small organ below the liver which regulates the release of bile from liver into the intestine for digestion. Changes in composition of bile or stasis of bile may result in the formation of stones within the gall bladder.
What are the symptoms of gall bladder stone disease?Gall bladder stones usually cause symptoms of indigestion like abdominal bloating, flatulence etc, pain in the upper part of abdomen or back. When complicated, stone disease can present with fever, vomiting and jaundice. Some gall stones may not cause any symptoms.
How can I know if I have gall stones?You need to consult a doctor when you have the above symptoms. A simple ultrasound of the abdomen following a clinical examination usually helps to identify the presence of gall stones. In complicated gall stone disease further investigations like CT scan or MRCP may be required.
What are the complications of gall stones?Gall stones can produce infection of gall bladder called Cholecystitis. The stones may slip into bile duct producing infection(cholangitis)or obstruction of biliary system resulting in obstructive jaundice. Sometimes the stones can obstruct the pancreatic duct resulting in pancreatitis.
What are the treatment options available?Treatment depends on the symptoms and investigation findings. Simple asymptomatic gall stones need not require any treatment. All symptomatic and complicated cases of gall stone disease require surgical treatment. Treatment of choice is surgical removal of gall bladder along with stones, which is done laparoscopically.
What is appendicitis?
The appendix is a small vestigial organ arising from the caecum of the large intestine. Occasionally it may become inflammed due to obstruction of the lumen. This condition is called appendicitis.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
Appendicitis usually presents with pain in the right lower part of abdomen or umbilical region along with vomiting and fever.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
A clinical examination along with routine blood investigations and an ultrasound of abdomen usually suggests the diagnosis. Occasionally further investigations may be required.
How is appendicitis treated?
Inflammed appendix needs to be removed surgically especially in children. This is nowadays done laparoscopically (keyhole surgery)- laparoscopic appendicectomy.
What are the complications of appendicitis?
In some cases inflamed appendix may perforate, if left untreated. Such cases may lead to serious complications like peritonitis and sepsis.
What is meant by hernia?
Hernia is a protrusion of the contents of the abdomen through a weakened portion of the abdominal wall.
What are the common areas where hernia can occur?
Hernias usually occur in the groin region (inguinal hernia), near the umbilical area (umbilical or paraumbilical hernia) or at the site of a previous incision (incisional hernia). There are several other types of hernia.
What are the symptoms of hernia?
Usually it produces a lump or bulge at the affected area. It is more prominently felt on standing, coughing and straining. Pain or discomfort may be felt along with this. Development of severe pain, constipation, abdominal distension and vomiting may suggest the development of complications.
What are the complications of hernia?
Occasionally a hernia may become obstructed where the lumen of intestine is blocked inside the hernial sac. Sometimes strangulation can occur where the blood supply to the contents of hernia (intestine or omentum) is affected. These are emergencies requiring immediate surgical intervention.
What is the treatment of hernia?
Hernia is managed surgically either by laparoscopy or open procedure where the defect in the abdominal wall is repaired and the wall is strengthened.
What is pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas which is an important digestive gland in our body.
What are the types of pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis may be acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis.
Why does acute pancreatits occur?
Many causes are suggested, important being alcohol consumption and as a complication of biliary stones.
What are the symptoms?
Severe upper abdominal pain, fever and vomiting are the usually symptoms.
How is this diagnosed?
Clinical examination, blood investigations and imaging modalities like ultrasound, CT scan or MRI or ERCP are helpful to arrive at a diagnosis.
What is the treatment?
Usually the treatment is medical and supportive care. In case of complications like fluid collection in the abdomen, surgical intervention may be required. Also if the cause is biliary stones surgical treatment is required to prevent further episodes.
What are pancreatic stones?
These are stones occurring in the ducts or parenchyma of pancreas which is an important gland secreting digestive enzymes and hormones.
Why does this occur?
Several causes have been described. Most cases of chronic pancreatitis can result in pancreatic stone formation at later stages. Most important cause of chronic pancreatitis is chronic alcoholism. Another common cause in our area is tropical or idiopathic calcific pancreatitis which is characterised by large calculi in the pancreatic duct and atrophy of pancreatic parenchyma.
What are the symptoms?
The patients can present with abdominal pain, features of indigestion, passage of white frothy stools, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and weight loss.
What are the treatment options available?
Small and asymptomatic stones may be managed conservatively with lifestyle changes and avoidance of alcohol. Those with intractable abdominal pain and complications require surgical removal of the stones.
What are the tumours that can occur in stomach?
Stomach is one of the main organs in the digestive tract responsible for the digestion of food. Most of the tumours arising from the stomach are malignant (cancerous) and require early intervention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include loss of appetite, loss of weight, passage of black tarry stools, vomiting, abdominal pain etc.
How can these tumours be diagnosed?
A combination of investigations such as endoscopy, ultrasound and CT scan may be required to arrive at the diagnosis.
What is the treatment available?
Depending on the type and stage of disease, surgical removal of the tumours along with a portion of the stomach with or without surrounding lymph nodes may be required.
Can I prevent stomach cancer?
Stomach cancers can’t be completely prevented. But we can reduce the risk by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced low-fat diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, exercising regularly etc. High risk patients should also undergo regular periodic health check-ups.What tumours can occur in the liver?
The liver is an important organ in the digestive system which plays a major role in digestion, detoxification and also the production of some important proteins in our body. Tumours of the liver can be benign (hemangioma, adenoma etc) or malignant (liver cancer) in nature. Various cysts (liver cysts) can also occur in liver.
What are the causes?
Tumours usually occur in the background of chronic liver disease/cirrhosis due to alcohol, viral infections like hepatitis B and C or other toxins.
What are the symptoms?
Most of them are asymptomatic. There can be jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, passage of dark tarry stools etc as part of chronic liver disease. Loss of appetite and loss of weight may occur.
How are liver tumours diagnosed?
A close follow-up and surveillance is required in high risk patients for early diagnosis. Investigations like ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan and blood investigations help to arrive at a diagnosis.
How are liver tumours treated?
Treatment depends on the nature of the tumour. Some of the benign tumours may not require any treatment. Others require surgical resection of the tumour as the usual curative treatment modality.
Occasionally other interventions like radiofrequency ablation or angioembolisation may be helpful.
What are pancreatic tumours?
The pancreas is an important digestive gland which secretes digestive juices into the intestine. It is also the site of synthesis of hormones like insulin and glucagon which are important in regulating the blood sugar level. Tumours may arise either from the cells secreting digestive juices or from the cells producing these hormones. These tumours may be benign or malignant (cancerous) in nature.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of tumour. They can cause loss of weight, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice and fluctuations in blood sugar level.
How are pancreatic tumours diagnosed?
A good clinical evaluation along with Investigations like ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan or ERCP and blood investigations may help in diagnosis.
How are pancreatic tumours treated?
The mode of treatment is surgical resection. The complexity of surgery depends on the nature, site and stage of tumour.
What are colorectal tumours?
Colo-rectum is the terminal portion of the digestive tract comprising of the large intestine and the rectum. Tumours of this part of the gastrointestinal tract are relatively common and range from benign polyps to malignant (cancerous) growths. Certain familial conditions predispose to some tumours in this region. A diet deficient in fibres and rich in fats is also postulated as a risk factor.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include bleeding per rectum, recent change in bowel habits (new onset of constipation or diarrhoea), black tarry stools, weight loss, sense of incomplete bowel evacuation etc.
How is the diagnosis made?
A combination of clinical examination, colonoscopy, CT scan or MRI scan may be needed to arrive at a diagnosis.
What are the treatment options available?
Benign symptomatic polyps can be managed by colonoscopic removal. Colo-rectal cancer requires surgical resection of the affected part of the bowel. Early surgical intervention considerably improves the outcome. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be required in advanced malignancies.
Can I prevent colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancers can’t be completely prevented. But we can reduce the risk by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced low-fat, high fibre diet, quitting smoking and alcohol, exercising regularly etc. High risk patients should also undergo regular periodic health check-ups.What is meant by laparoscopy?
This is a surgical technique where instead of a large incision, small incisions of 5mm to 1cm are made on the abdominal wall through which special instruments are inserted and surgeries are performed. The contents of abdominal cavity are visualised on a screen using a specially inserted camera and this assist in performing the procedures with good vision, magnification and greater accuracy.
What are the advantages of laparoscopy?
The advantages of keyhole surgery are less pain and no scar.
Since a large incision is avoided the chances for adverse events of surgery like surgical site infections and hernia are also reduced. Early mobilisation after surgery is possible and hospital stay is shortened.
Can all abdominal surgeries be performed laparoscopically?
Most of the gastrointestinal surgeries can be performed laparoscopically if good expertise and proper instrumentation are available.