Gastroenterology

What is Liver Biopsy?Liver biopsy is a procedure in which tissue samples from the liver are removed and sent for examination and analysis to a laboratory. It is used to diagnose various diseases in the liver. A liver biopsy is also performed to diagnose the cause of liver abnormalities detected in an ultrasound or a CT scan. Additionally, a liver biopsy is done to examine the effectiveness of a therapy that you may be receiving for a liver disease.What are the different methods of Liver Biop...

What is a Sphincterotomy?Sphincterotomy is a procedure in which anal fissures are treated. A tear in the rectal lining which most often results from hard bowel movement is called an anal fissure. Due to muscle spasms and continuous bowel movements, the healing of the anal fissures is prevented. They become very severe and cause great pain and discomfort. Medication to encourage healing and stool softeners can also be used to heal the anal fissures. However, severe and reoccurring fissures need t...

Colon cancer also called as colorectal cancer when caught in the early stages is curable.What are the treatment options for colon cancer?Treatment options for colon cancer depend on the stage at which the cancer is discovered. They include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery is the best approach for early stages of colon cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy is required, particularly in later stages to prevent the recurrence of cancer. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation is ...

What is Gastrectomy?Gastrectomy is a surgery to remove a portion or the entire stomach. Gastrectomy is performed to treat cancer, non-cancerous tumors, and bleeding and inflammation of the stomach due to ulcers.For the surgery, a urinary catheter is used to monitor urine output. A nasogastric tube is inserted from the nose to the stomach, and an antiseptic solution is used to clean the abdomen.The surgery is performed by making a cut in the abdomen, and a portion or the entire stomach is rem...

What is Hernia repair surgery?Hernia repair is surgery to correct a hernia - an abnormal bulging of internal organs, often the intestine, through a weakness in a muscular wall.A hernia repair is known medically as a herniorrhaphy.Two techniques are in use today:Open surgery:In this approach, the doctor makes a single long incision over the hernia, removes the protruding sac if necessary, and sews the torn muscle closed. Man-made mesh may be applied to the inside of the muscle wall to further str...

What are gallbladder stones? Gallbladder stones are formed when chemicals in the bile of the gallbladder form crystals that are sandy or gravel-like particles. Gallbladder stones cause pain in the upper abdomen which may shift to the right shoulder blade. Nausea and vomiting are also experienced by patients suffering from gallbladder stones. What are the available options for treating gallbladder stones? Surgery Surgery is a good option for removing stones from the gallbladder,...

What is Pancreatic biopsy?Pancreatic biopsy refers to the procedure in which some tissue from an unidentified cyst is extracted from the pancreas and examined to find out the presence of cancer. It helps the doctor in accurate diagnosis. Therefore it is imperative that a conclusive tissue sample is obtained from the pancreas during the biopsy. The shape, size and the position of the cancerous tissue cells extracted in a pancreatic biopsy will determine the category and stage of the pancreatic ca...

What is Sleeve Gastrectomy? Sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss procedure where the stomach is made smaller by surgical removal to form a slim "sleeve." Patients can eat only small amounts of food, resulting in weight loss. A sleeve gastrectomy is often followed by duodenal switch surgery or a gastric bypass. How is Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure carried out? The surgeon uses a laparoscope to guide small instruments which divide the stomach vertically along the inside cu...