Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Sangita Reddy said Gastroenterology specialty has evolved over the years from simple endoscopies to advanced ERCPs treating acute patients, pregnant mothers and complex big risk cases. She announced Apollo Health City injecting radioactive isotope into the liver secondary for the first time in this region, and said, this is a significant advancement in treatment with an excellent outcome. She pointed out to the audience about the general perceptions in the past of bigger the incision meant more prominent the surgeon was to today’s scenario, with minimally invasive surgeries changing the perception upside down and making smaller incisions the rule. She reminded the fact that Apollo Hospitals at Hyderabad pioneered and popularized the Laproscopic surgery by training several surgeons in the technique. However Minimally invasive surgery has taken a bigger leap with the advent of ROBOTIC SURGERY and in the years to come Robotic surgery will be the mainstream surgery. She highlighted the rising incidence of cancers of the liver, intestine and abdomen. Most patients of these cancers are reporting in the 2nd or 3rd stage and this despite having best screening procedures to detect at an early stage. She called upon the medical community to raise awareness on prevention and early detection of such cancers. She said Apollo Health City is awaiting permission for performing live donor transplants and the number of transplants will go up significantly with that permission. On the occasion of Organ Donation day tomorrow, the Apollo family will take a pledge to donate their organs, she pointed out that each donor can help seven beneficiaries. People should come forward to pledge their organs on humanitarian grounds. She also pointed out that Apollo Hospitals group performed the largest number of transplants in the world.
The scientific program focused on the THREE KILLERS OF LIVER - NAFLD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), HEPATITIS ‘B’ and HEPATITIS ‘C’, and the latest treatment options available. There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of these diseases amongst our populace in the recent years. Apollo Health City alone has been receiving a large number of cases every month, with these ailments. The good news is that all the three diseases are reversible if treated in time and therefore needs mass awareness on prevention and early detection.
Obesity is a cause of concern amongst the youth of India, due to their sedentary lifestyles, consumption of junk fatty foods, with no exercise regimen. One of the major outcomes of obesity is NAFLD. According to Dr. Asha Subbalakshmi, NAFLD can reach epidemic proportions in the years to come with improper lifestyles our youth is tempted to adopt, today.
NAFLD without signs of fibrosis, may be benign. But NAFLD characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis can be a serious cause for concern. Fibrosis can gradually replace the liver tissue leading to loss of liver function or end-stage liver disease called cirrhosis of the liver, Cancer and death. The common risk factors for progression of NAFLD include older age (50 years and older), weight gain, insulin resistance and diabetes. The disease is mostly silent and is often discovered through elevated liver enzyme levels. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, increased exercise, getting a good night’s sleep, and eating healthy foods aid in improving from NAFLD condition. Experts recommend a loss of nine to 10 percent of body weight and moderate exercise three to five times a week to help reduce the risk. Exercise coupled with a moderate caloric-restricted diet utilizing low-glycemic foods is optimal for preventing NAFLD, says Dr Asha Subbalakshmi.
The Medical Education Program also highlighted the exciting advances in treatment of alcoholic liver disease and liver cancer. The new treatments include oral chemotherapy SORAFENIB which has less side effects than intravenous /systemic chemotherapy. The ultimate treatment for end stage liver disease is Liver transplant, the program highlighted the new faster techniques of transplant surgery including live donor and split liver transplant, where a part of the liver of the donor who is a relative is used.
About Department of Gastroenterology at Apollo Health City
The Department of Gastroenterology at Apollo Health City has been in the forefront in offering the latest treatments for Liver disease. Some advanced treatments especially all forms of endoscopic and treatment for liver cancer and liver transplantation for end stage liver disease are available. The department offers latest treatments such as Pancreatic Endo-therapeutic procedures, high risk endoscopic procedures such as ERCP in pregnancy and Surgical treatment for Hepato-Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Liver cancer and Liver Transplantation for end stage liver disease.