Upper GI Surgeries
Achalasia Cardia
When a person is unable to swallow his / her food the condition is medically called as dysphagia. There are many causes of dysphagia but one of its rare causes is a condition called Achalasia cardia. In this condition, the junction of lower end of the food pipe with the stomach does not open adequately when an affected individual tries to swallow food as a result of which the food stagnates in the food pipe leading to vomiting. The affected person starts to become malnourished and lose weight. The food pipe also starts to dilate due to food stasis. With time the patient develops protein-energy malnutrition and deficiencies of many nutrients and vitamins. This significantly impairs the quality of life of the patient and if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening complications.
Laparoscopic Heller’s cardiomyotomy with partial fundoplication is the name of the surgery performed for such patients. It’s a delicate surgery requiring splitting up of the muscles at the lower end of the food pipe without opening the lumen of the food pipe. This laparoscopic procedure can bring relief for many such affected individuals and bring an end to their misery. Dr. Siddhartha Bhattacharya, the best laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata, has many years of experience in this procedure. Recovery after this surgery is early and relief is instant.
Cancer of Stomach
Cancer of the stomach usually arises from the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach. This type of cancer is called adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer can affect a part of the stomach or whole of the stomach. Sometimes cancer can also affect the lower end of the food pipe (gastroesophageal junction).
Affected patients can present one or more of the symptoms as described below:
- Early satiety (feeling full after a small meal)
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Nausea & vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anorexia
- Persistent heartburn
Patients experiencing the above symptoms should see a doctor. After evaluation, the doctor may prescribe some tests like endoscopy, CT scan and certain blood tests to ascertain and stage the disease.
Treatment
Treatment modalities to treat stomach cancer and GEJ tumours include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and others. The type of treatment offered to a patient depends on the stage of the disease and condition of the patient.
Surgery for Stomach & GEJ Cancer
In the early stages, stomach cancer is curable by surgery (with or without additional therapy). The surgery not only requires the tumor to be removed but also the removal of the nearby lymph nodes. This is called as radical surgery that removes all cancer cells. This type of radical surgery can also be performed laparoscopically in the expert hands of a reputed laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata. This allows the patient to have the benefits of early recovery and less pain of minimally invasive surgery.
Cancer of the esophagus (food pipe)
The esophagus is a long narrow tube (food pipe) running from our throat to the stomach. Cancer of the esophagus usually develops from its inner lining cells. Patients with esophageal cancers are usually present with the following symptoms:
- Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)
- Chest pain and heartburn
- Unexplained weight loss
- Cough & hoarseness of voice
Patients experiencing the above symptoms should see a doctor. After evaluation, the doctor may prescribe some tests like endoscopy, CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, PET scan and certain blood tests to ascertain and stage the disease.
Treatment
Treatment modalities to treat esophageal cancers include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and others. The type of treatment offered to a patient depends on the stage of the disease and condition of the patient.
Surgery for Esophageal Cancers
In the early stages, esophageal cancer is curable by surgery (with or without additional therapy). The surgery not only requires the tumor to be removed but also the removal of the nearby lymph nodes. This is called as radical surgery that removes all cancer cells. This type of radical surgery can also be performed by a combined laparoscopic & thoracoscopic (VATS) approach in expert hands. This allows the patient to have the benefits of early recovery and less pain of minimally invasive surgery.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)
This is a type of tumor which can arise from any part of the intestinal tract, commonly affecting the stomach and small intestine. These tumors have low to high malignant potential. Such tumors can be removed laparoscopically in most cases. Patients may require additional therapy before and after surgery.