Dr. Jayant Barve
Best Gastroenterologist, Mumbai

Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the flat pink lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by chronic acid reflux and is replaced by reddish lining of the stomach. It's a pre cancerous condition which can be diagnosed accurately only by endoscopy and can be treated.

Gallstones disease is a common disorder at middle age and is represented by moderate to severe pain in the right side of abdomen and vomiting. It results in infection and inflammation of the gall bladder.

Presence of fever suggest serious disease like infection in the biliary tree. Presence of jaundice is suggestive of obstruction of biliary tree. Severe pain on left side of abdomen or back suggest pancreatitis - most dreaded complication of gallstone disease.

At early stage this disease can be controlled by medicines. However surgical removal by laparoscopy (Gall Bladder Stones Removal routinely done at Jewel Hospital) is the cure for the disease. Laparoscopic surgery is safe, less painful, associated with short stay in the hospital and early resumption to normal life.

Pancreas is like an active chemical factory producing insulin and juices required for digestion of food. During pancreatitis these juices escape outside the pancreas and cause multiorgan failure.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. It can be acute, recurrent or chronic. Severe acute Pancreatitis can be life threatening. Chronic Pancreatitis can be a disabling condition due to severe loss of weight, recurrent and severe pain and very poor digestion.

If not diagnosed and treated early, it can result in cancer of pancreas. Cancer of the pancreas is commonly diagnosed at a late stage as the symptoms of pain, vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite and weight are attributed to acidity, indigestion, gas, etc.

Pancreatitis diagnosis usually involves a combination of clinical symptoms, blood tests, and imaging scans.

Satisfactory treatment can be provided if diagnosed in time. The treatment may involve a hospital stay, IV fluids, pain medication, and nutritional support.

Diarrhoea is when your stools are loose and watery. You may also need to go to the bathroom more often. Other symptoms may be nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss. Acute diarrhoea is commonly due to infection. Chronic diarrhoea leads to generalised ill health, nutritional deficiency, poor immunity etc. It can be due to multiple diseases including cancer, colitis which need thorough investigations.

Gastrointestinal cancer is cancer that develops along the GI tract (also called the digestive tract).

Cancers of the GI tract include involvement of various part of digestive system including buccal mucosa, tongue, food pipe, stomach, small intestine and colon.

It also includes cancer of the liver, biliary system and pancreas. Unfortunately many of these cancers remain silent and present at an advanced stage, hence carry high mortality.

Colon (colorectal) cancer can remain silent for a long time but may present as chronic constipation, irregular motions or change in bowel habits. Bleeding in the stool or anaemia due to chronic blood loss, weakness, loss of weight may be other symptoms. It can start as a colonic polyp (grapelike swelling) and if detected at this stage by colonoscopy, a cure is possible. It has a high incidence in family and hence screening of family members by colonoscopy is essential.

Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer as majority of the patients present at an advanced stage with metastasis. Chronic pain in upper abdomen and mid back, loss of appetite and weight or jaundice should raise a suspicion of pancreatic cancer. High degree of suspicion and early detection is the key for good outcome.

Dr Barve has a special interest in NAFLD and believes in patient education for satisfactory results.

Fatty liver is one of the most common diagnosis of liver made on sonography. People tend to develop fatty liver if they have certain other conditions such as obesity, diabetes or high triglycerides. Now a days it is seen in younger age group due to unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle, junk food, lack of exercise etc. resulting in obesity hence NAFLD.

It is never to be neglected. It can eventually lead to cirrhosis of liver, cancer of liver and premature death. Early detection results in a very satisfactory treatment and outcome.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents leading to a range of health problems. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis B and C can become chronic progressing to Cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. Dr. Jayant Barve had taken initiative for awareness for chronic hepatitis and involved Mr. Amitabh Bachchan as a brand Ambassador for WHO for South East Asia. Due to Dr. Barve's initiative for involvement of Mr. Bachchan, Govt. of India has initiated a campaign against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Celiac disease is an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. It triggers an immune response in your small intestine to the gluten protein in your diet causing diarrohea, weakness, malnutrition deficiency and many other symptoms.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth {SIBO) is defined as the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine. Patients with SIBO may also suffer from weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, loose motions, foul flatus etc.