Gastroenterology Treatments at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
A diagnosis is only half the picture. What follows is treatment, and in gastroenterology many conditions can now be treated through the same thin tube, called a scope, that was used to find them. CritiCare Asia Hospitals is a gastroenterology hospital in Mumbai where the gastroenterology team at the Kurla centre carries out ERCP, therapeutic flexible colonoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy. In each, special instruments are passed through the scope to fix the problem during the procedure itself, which often avoids open surgery. They differ in where in the digestive system they work and which problems they treat. Gastro treatments in Kurla, Mumbai are used once tests confirm that a treatment procedure is the right next step.
When a Gastro Treatment May Be Advised
A scope-based treatment may be suggested when tests or scans have found:
- Stones stuck in the bile duct, or a narrowing that blocks the flow of bile
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), pain or infection traced to the bile or pancreatic ducts
- Polyps (small growths) found during a colonoscopy
- Bleeding from the colon, stomach or food pipe with no other explanation
- Difficulty swallowing from a narrowed food pipe
- An early growth in the stomach or food pipe lining that may be removed without surgery
Talk to a gastroenterologist in Kurla if you have been told that one of these needs treatment.
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography)
ERCP treats problems in the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct. It is used most often for gallstones that have left the gallbladder and become stuck, or for a narrowing that blocks normal drainage. The scope goes through the mouth to the spot where the bile duct opens into the small intestine. Dye is injected, and X-ray pictures guide the doctor to the blockage, where tools passed through the scope can remove stones or place a stent, a small tube that holds the duct open. Blockages are usually cleared in the same session, and the pictures confirm drainage has been restored. The procedure is done under sedation, which is medicine that makes you sleepy, after fasting. Mild belly discomfort afterwards is common, and patients are watched for a few hours because of a small risk of swelling of the pancreas. Those seeking ERCP treatment in Kurla, Mumbai are told what to expect before the day. Cost estimates and insurance or cashless options, where applicable, can be discussed with the hospital team at the start.
Therapeutic Flexible Colonoscopy
Sometimes a routine colonoscopy finds something that needs treating, not just noting. The same procedure can often move from diagnosis to treatment, so the patient does not have to come back for a second session. Using the same flexible scope, the doctor passes instruments to remove polyps, control bleeding points, or take larger tissue samples than a routine biopsy. Removed polyps are sent to a laboratory to check for early cancer changes, and bleeding is usually controlled at once. It is used when polyps are found at screening or when the colon is the source of unexplained bleeding. Bowel preparation and sedation are the same as for a standard colonoscopy. Recovery is slightly longer when tissue has been removed, and any bleeding or pain afterwards should be reported promptly.
Therapeutic Endoscopy
Therapeutic endoscopy covers procedures through an upper digestive scope, where the aim is to correct a problem, not just look at it. This includes stopping active bleeding from an ulcer, stretching a narrowed food pipe, and removing an abnormal growth from the lining of the stomach or food pipe. Depending on the problem, the scope carries clips, heat tools, balloons for stretching, or cutting instruments. Bleeding is usually controlled in the same session, and a stretched food pipe often swallows better straight away. Sedation and fasting are the same as for a standard endoscopy. People treated for bleeding are watched more closely afterwards, and those who have had stretching are advised to eat soft food for a short time. People looking for therapeutic endoscopy in Kurla are guided on aftercare.
Treatment Options
The team decides whether treatment can be done in the same session as the diagnosis or needs separate planning. Each case is assessed individually, and a procedure is not the default. Surgery is considered only when scope-based treatment is not suitable.
Gastroenterology Treatments at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
At CritiCare Asia Hospitals, gastro treatments are carried out by the gastroenterology team once test results confirm a treatment procedure is the right step. Sedation, the procedure, and monitoring afterwards are managed as one process, and the findings and next steps are explained once the patient is fully awake. Book a consultation with the gastroenterology team at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, if you have been advised to consider a gastro treatment procedure.