FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve listed some frequently asked questions for your convenience. Don't hesitate to contact our practice if you need additional information about your condition or procedure.
FAQ
We’ve listed some frequently asked questions for your convenience. Don't hesitate to contact our practice if you need additional information about your condition or procedure.
1What hepato-pancreaticobiliary disorders do we treat?
Hepato-pancreaticobiliary diseases are illnesses of the biliary system, liver or pancreas. We treat bacterial or viral infections, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and remove gallstones.
Procedures include:
Procedures include:
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Ultrasound AKA Endo-echo or EUS
- Whipple's Procedure
- Distal Pancreatectomy
- Frey procedure
- Splenectomy
- Biliary surgery - Bile duct exploration or Cholecystectomy or Hepatico-jejunostomy
- Liver resection and Metastasectomy
2What are the symptoms of a biliary illness?
Jaundice, when the whites of your eyes turn yellow, is a common sign of biliary disease. Other symptoms of biliary disease are stomach pain, nausea, weight loss, lethargy and fever. You'll also notice a change in the colour of your urine from white or yellow to light brown.
3Are gallstones a severe medical concern?
Gallstones aren't usually severe and can be treated easily. These stones can cause complications when the gallbladder or pancreas becomes infected, or there's a blockage in the bile ducts.
4Can gallstones pass out of my body without surgery?
If gallstones are small, they can pass out of your body via the intestine. Tiny gallstones move from the bile ducts to the intestines and exit the body through your stool. Large gallstones and stones that cause complications need to be surgically removed.
5How do we treat gallstones?
We extract gallstones through a specialised Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography or ERCP. We insert a bendable tube (endoscope) into the mouth down the upper digestive tract. We make a small incision to expand the bile duct. An ERCP procedure allows gallstones to pass into the intestine out of the body. If gallstones don't move out naturally, we remove them.
6Can I drink alcohol if I have pancreatitis?
One of the primary triggers of pancreatitis is alcohol. You must abstain from alcohol, especially if it's the cause of pancreatitis. Even if the underlying reasons for acute pancreatitis have been resolved, you still need to minimise your alcohol intake.
7Are there any supplements that I need to take if I have pancreatitis?
Nutrient malabsorption is one of the common complications of pancreatitis. If you have pancreatitis, your body will struggle to absorb essential vitamins D, A, E, iron, vitamin B12 and multivitamins. In chronic malabsorption, enzyme secretion is lowered by more than 90 per cent. Low pancreatic and bicarbonate secretions reduce the pH level in the duodenum and as a result, affect the digestion of fats.
8Why do I need Whipple's procedure?
For Whipple's procedure, we remove the head, which is about 50 per cent of the pancreas. This procedure aims to treat pancreatic cancer and remove all of the tumour as well as adjacent lymph nodes to stop the spread of the disease.
9How long does it take to recover from the Whipple procedure?
Each case is different, but generally, it takes about two months, sometimes six months in rare circumstances. Patients are prescribed vitamins, iron supplements and chronic medication to lower stomach acid. We also determine whether you need medication to control your blood sugar levels.
10Why do we need to remove your gallbladder?
We have to remove your gallbladder when gallstones block the bile ducts and affect the biliary tree's drainage system. Chronic inflammation, pancreatitis and cholecystitis are additional reasons for the removal of the gallbladder.
1What hepato-pancreaticobiliary disorders do we treat?
Hepato-pancreaticobiliary diseases are illnesses of the biliary system, liver or pancreas. We treat bacterial or viral infections, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and remove gallstones.
Procedures include:
Procedures include:
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Ultrasound AKA Endo-echo or EUS
- Whipple's Procedure
- Distal Pancreatectomy
- Frey procedure
- Splenectomy
- Biliary surgery - Bile duct exploration or Cholecystectomy or Hepatico-jejunostomy
- Liver resection and Metastasectomy
2What are the symptoms of a biliary illness?
Jaundice, when the whites of your eyes turn yellow, is a common sign of biliary disease. Other symptoms of biliary disease are stomach pain, nausea, weight loss, lethargy and fever. You'll also notice a change in the colour of your urine from white or yellow to light brown.
3Are gallstones a severe medical concern?
Gallstones aren't usually severe and can be treated easily. These stones can cause complications when the gallbladder or pancreas becomes infected, or there's a blockage in the bile ducts.
4Can gallstones pass out of my body without surgery?
If gallstones are small, they can pass out of your body via the intestine. Tiny gallstones move from the bile ducts to the intestines and exit the body through your stool. Large gallstones and stones that cause complications need to be surgically removed.
5How do we treat gallstones?
We extract gallstones through a specialised Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography or ERCP. We insert a bendable tube (endoscope) into the mouth down the upper digestive tract. We make a small incision to expand the bile duct. An ERCP procedure allows gallstones to pass into the intestine out of the body. If gallstones don't move out naturally, we remove them.
6Can I drink alcohol if I have pancreatitis?
One of the primary triggers of pancreatitis is alcohol. You must abstain from alcohol, especially if it's the cause of pancreatitis. Even if the underlying reasons for acute pancreatitis have been resolved, you still need to minimise your alcohol intake.
7Are there any supplements that I need to take if I have pancreatitis?
Nutrient malabsorption is one of the common complications of pancreatitis. If you have pancreatitis, your body will struggle to absorb essential vitamins D, A, E, iron, vitamin B12 and multivitamins. In chronic malabsorption, enzyme secretion is lowered by more than 90 per cent. Low pancreatic and bicarbonate secretions reduce the pH level in the duodenum and as a result, affect the digestion of fats.
8Why do I need Whipple's procedure?
For Whipple's procedure, we remove the head, which is about 50 per cent of the pancreas. This procedure aims to treat pancreatic cancer and remove all of the tumour as well as adjacent lymph nodes to stop the spread of the disease.
9How long does it take to recover from the Whipple procedure?
Each case is different, but generally, it takes about two months, sometimes six months in rare circumstances. Patients are prescribed vitamins, iron supplements and chronic medication to lower stomach acid. We also determine whether you need medication to control your blood sugar levels.
10Why do we need to remove your gallbladder?
We have to remove your gallbladder when gallstones block the bile ducts and affect the biliary tree's drainage system. Chronic inflammation, pancreatitis and cholecystitis are additional reasons for the removal of the gallbladder.