Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy is one of the best surgical gastroenterologists in India and has over 47 years of experience. He is an expert hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon specializing in Gastritis Treatment, Laser Piles Treatment, and Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy.
After completing his MBBS from Rangaraya Medical College and Diploma in Laparoscopy from Madras University, Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy earned his FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSE), U.K. He set up the GI and Advanced Laparoscopic Unit in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India and has been associated with Apollo Hospitals Greams Road Chennai for more than 25 years.
Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy has been inducted as a member of various esteemed medical organizations including the Indian Medical Association, Association of Surgeons of India, Association of Surgical Gastroenterology, Indian Society of Gastroenterology, Association of Gastro Endo-surgeons (IAGES), Indian Society of HBP, International Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Society of Laparo-endoscopic Surgeons, Member – Apollo Hospitals Audit and Disciplinary Committee and Society of Laparo-endoscopic Surgeons. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy has published his work in prestigious national and international medical journals.
Gall Stones
The gall bladder stores the bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver. The gall bladder releases this stored bile into the small intestine for digestion. The gall bladder is a small organ beneath the liver on the right side of the abdomen.
Digestive fluids and fats form hardened deposits in the gall bladder. These are called gallstones which can vary in size and number. Gall stones do not require treatment if there are no associated symptoms.
In some cases, gallstones may cause blockage in the duct, not allowing the bile to flow out. This causes infection, and the gall bladder may become distended due to the accumulation of bile. If left untreated, it may burst inside the abdomen and cause complications.
Symptoms of Gall Stones
Symptoms of gall stones typically occur when they cause a blockage in the duct. Common symptoms include:
- Excruciating pain in the abdomen
- Pain in the back or shoulder
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Visible changes in urine and stool
- Pain in the abdomen triggered by certain foods
The symptoms of gall stones are similar to pancreatitis, ulcers, etc that the best surgical gastroenterologists in Chennai can diagnose.
Risk factors of gall stones
The following are risk factors for developing gall stones:
- Females are at a higher risk of developing gall stones
- Those above 40 years are at higher risk
- High Fat Diet
- Yo-Yo dieting
- High cholesterol
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Blood disorders
- Weight loss surgery
Certain foods, such as tamarinds, have been associated with gall stones, although no major studies have been conducted. According to Dr. Prasanna Kumar Reddy, the rise in the cases of gall bladder cancer in Chennai and other gall bladder diseases may in some way be linked to tamarind although nothing concrete can be said yet.
Treatment of Gall Stones
The recommended and most common treatment for gall stones is surgery to remove the gall bladder. It is known as cholecystectomy. Once the gall bladder is removed, the bile from the liver flows directly to the small intestines.
In case, surgery is not an option, medications may be used to dissolve the gall stones. Gall stones can reoccur if medications are discontinued. A team of the best surgical gastroenterologists in Chennai pegs the chances of the development of gall bladder cancer due to gall stones at 5 percent. Both chemotherapy and radiation treatment have proved to be ineffective in these cases.
The surgery to remove the gall bladder, or cholecystectomy, may be done in two ways:
Open surgery: The gall bladder is removed through the single incision in the abdomen. The recovery time is longer for open surgery and the risk for infections is higher. Open surgery is performed if the gall bladder is inflamed or diseased or laparoscopic removal is not possible. The decision for the type of cholecystectomy procedure rests with the surgeon.
Laparoscopic surgery: Three or four incisions are made in the abdomen. A thin tube or laparoscope, a camera and surgical instruments are inserted. The surgeon looks at the images projected by the camera on a screen to conduct the operation and pulls out the gall bladder through one of the incisions. Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road Chennai has one of the best robotic and laparoscopic operating facilities in India.
Prevention of Gall Stones
Gall stones are preventable with proper diet and exercise.
- Include fiber in the diet
- Eat more vegetables and fruits
- Reduce intake of sugars and bakery products that contained refined carbs
- Avoid fried foods
- Switch to healthier oils like olive oil or fish oil
- Avoid rapid weight loss
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
Conclusion
Gall stones are prevalent in developed and developing countries as obesity and diabetes continue their upward trend. Regular health checkups can screen for gall stones and may help to manage the disease. Gall bladder removal is a common but major surgery with a high success rate when performed by the best surgical gastroenterologists in India.
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