Dr Vikas Singla is a well known Gastroenterologist, Liver disease specialist, endoscopist & hepatologist in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

1. Endoscopist
Endoscopy and colonoscopy are the procedures to diagnose and treat various
abdominal diseases. Endoscopy is performed when a patient has complaints of
difficulty in eating, vomiting of blood, fullness and pain in upper abdomen.
Endoscopy can diagnose cancer and ulcer at the early stage, and the various
bleeding lesions can be treated and stents can be placed in case of cancers.
Colonoscopy is performed in patients with constipation, bleeding in stool, and
pain in lower abdomen. Cancer and ulcers of colon can be performed at early
stage and various therapeutic procedures can be performed.
ERCP is one form of endoscopy which is performed to remove stones from
common bile duct and pancreatic duct, and to place stents in patients with
jaundice
Gastroenterologist
Gastroenterologist are the doctors who take care of the various problems
related to abdomen, liver, pancreas, and gall bladder
Who should visit a gastroenterologist
Whoever has complaints of difficulty in eating good, pain in abdomen, jaundice,
diarrhea, constipation, bleeding from mouth and rectum, should consult the best
gastroenterologist. After listening to your symptoms and examination, either he
can prescribe medications, or advise further tests for further confirmation of
diagnosis.
Anybody who has jaundice, distension of abdomen due to water, and bleeding
should not ignore these symptoms and should immediately contact the
gastroenterologist.
Pancreatic diseases
Acute pancreatitis occurs due to alcohol and gall bladder stone. Patients with
acute pancreatitis complains of pain in upper abdomen, vomiting, abdomen
distension, and constipation. Diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound abdomen,
serum amylase and lipase values. Patients with severe pancreatitis can have
kidney failure or difficulty in breathing. Patients with acute pancreatitis should
be immediately admitted to the hospital, should be started on IV fluids, pain
killers and organ support if required. Duration of recovery varies from few days
to weeks. Alcohol should be stooped and gall bladder stones should be removed
for prevention of further attacks.
Chronic pancreatitis occurs due to alcohol, increased calcium, lipids and genetic
causes. These patients can either have repeated attacks or have continuous pain
in abdomen. Treatment includes oral enzyme supplementation, oral anti-

2. oxidants, ERCP to remove stone or placement of stent for stricture, and surgery
fro removal of mass from pancreas and removal of stone and drainage of
obstructed duct. Some patients of chronic pancreatitis may required EUS guided
steroid injection around the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer usually occur in elderly male, and these patients have
symptoms of pain abdomen, jaundice and weight loss. Diagnosis is confirmed by
ultrasonography, CT and endoscopic ultrasound. Treatment options are surgery,
chemotherapy and stenting for relief form jaundice and itching, EUS guided
alcohol injection of relief of pain.
Gall balder stone
Gall bladder stone commonly occur in young female. Symptoms are pain in
upper abdomen, jaundice. Large gall bladder stones can lead to cancer also. Many
of these stones can be asymptomatic also, which are detected during
ultrasonography.
Symptomatic gall balder stoned should be removed surgically, treatment
includes removal of whole of the gall bladder, no just the stones.
Gall bladder stones without symptoms can be followed up or surgically removed
depending upon the size, risk factors and the patient wish.
Gastric disease symptoms
Common gastric diseases are gastritis, peptic ulcer, and cancer.
Symptoms of gastric diseases are pain in upper abdomen, fullness after the
meals, vomiting, and weight loss.
Gastric diseases can be diagnosed by the endoscopy, which can show the ulcer or
growth.
Most of the gastric diseases are treated with medicines, few may require surgery.
If one has new onset pain abdomen with weight loss, vomiting, and bleeding
from mouth should immediately contact the gastroenterologist.