Hepatology
Hepatology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the liver and conditions affecting the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts.
Hepatology is a subsidiary division of gastroenterology and has developed into a medical field over the years, with subspecialties.
A specialized doctor, called a Hepatologist, is responsible for diagnosing and treating hepatic conditions. Some of the common disorders affecting the liver, for which a hepatologist is needed, are hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver diseases caused due to alcohol and liver cancer.
Hepatologists diagnose the intensity of hepatic diseases, and their spread to adjacent organs and devise a treatment plan to manage the disorder accordingly.
The Division of Hepatology at SIDS Hospital is a multifaceted program that offers the latest clinical treatment and research in one hospital system along with best hepatology surgeons of Surat. With millions of people having chronic liver disease, the number of advanced liver diseases being diagnosed is increasing.
In response to this need, substantial advances in treatment options and research have been made. Our division integrates all available options, including hepatology surgery, into our practice.
The Division of Hepatology is committed to providing state-of-the-art, high-quality medical care to the diverse population we serve, with a robust clinical faculty. Our members are proud of their proven record of patient satisfaction and high rate of excellent clinical outcomes.
We strive for excellence in clinical care and translational research. Residents benefit from seeing a broad spectrum of hepatological cases and are led by highly skilled attending physicians, gastroenterologists and hepatology surgeons near them.
Usually, a patient is referred to a Hepatologist by a GP or a family doctor if his assessment leads to any of the findings listed below:
- Abnormality in Liver Function Test Result: If a liver function (LFT) blood test comes back with either high or low ranges then a patient might be referred to a hepatologist. The LFT measures the level of enzymes and proteins in the body. Enzymes indicate the level of damage to the liver while proteins indicate how well the liver is performing.
- Indication of a Liver disorder: If your GP is concerned that you have a fatty liver, or your symptoms are indicative of hepatitis, cirrhosis, binary cholangitis, sclerosing cholangitis, steatohepatitis, etc
- Discoloration of Urine (deep yellow or brown): Discoloration of Urine to a deep yellow or brown is indicative of a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) or disorders of the kidneys and/or the liver. It is also possible that some medications are not being broken down by the liver properly.
- Jaundice: Although this is classified as a disease, it is indicative of an underlying liver disorder. The yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes is the most common symptom of jaundice. This yellowing is caused by the accumulation of a pigment called the bilirubin. The liver is responsible for pushing the bilirubin into the digestive tract. Accumulation of bilirubin means the liver isn’t doing its job like it is meant to.
- Unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding: Unexplained bleeding from the upper GI tract or vomiting blood may indicate a haemorrhage due to liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a liver disease that is caused by the scarring tissue in the liver. The scar tissues replace the healthy liver tissues restricting the liver from functioning properly and causing permanent damage.