Gall bladder is a small organ that stores bile, a greenish liquid which is essential for breaking down the food we eat.

Gallstones are (usually tiny, but sometimes larger) deposits of solid particles in the gallbladder. When there is too much cholesterol in the bile, gallstones are formed. Sometimes, gallstones also form because of calcium or bilirubin.

You must reach out to your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Acute pain in the abdomen extending to upper back or right shoulder

• Shivering and fever

• Jaundice

• Clay coloured stools or dark urine

• Severe nausea and vomiting

The extent of danger depends on the size of stones, and the amount of time they have been left untreated. Gallstones are so common that the treatment for them has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years. The treatment for gallstones is quite simple and a surgery (if needed) takes a maximum of 30 minutes. However, delaying the treatment can be potentially hazardous.

As long as you don’t have any discomfort or pain, you can ignore your gallstones. However, if you have pain, you should visit a doctor at the earliest. Leaving gallstones untreated for long can result in any of the following:

• Stones in bile duct - untreated stones can pass on to bile duct causing severe pain, vomiting, and nausea. This can lead to blockage of both gallbladder and pancreas, which can cause a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis

• Inflammation of bile duct: Due to gallstones, the bile duct sometimes gets swollen up. This can lead to high fever, chills and even jaundice. This inflammation can potentially spread to neighbouring organs causing severe problems.

• Inflammation of gallbladder: Gallstones can cause swelling in the gallbladder also. This can cause infection, formation of pus and may even lead to death of the organ.

• Cancer: Large gallstones when ignored, can also lead to the cancer of gallbladder or pancreas. 4 out of 5 people who are diagnosed with gallbladder cancer are diagnosed with gallstones early on.

Yes, for a few cases, if the size of the stone is small (less than 1cm, but this varies across cases), stones can be dissolved by medication and by drinking plenty of water. At Ayu Health, our intent is to find the most optimal cure for our patients. The doctor will only recommend a surgical procedure if needed.

The most common treatment across the world for gallstones is gallbladder removal surgery, also known as Cholecystectomy. This is the shortest and the best way known to relieve discomfort caused by gallstones.

Yes, absolutely. Removing the gallbladder does not really affect your life too much. The bile will directly flow from the liver into the small intestine. This can sometimes cause indigestion and loose stools. To avoid this, the only change you need to make after the surgery is changing your diet by decreasing the amount of oily, fatty and spicy food.

Laparoscopic procedure for gallbladder removal involves the use of a laparoscope, a long, thin probe that allows for the surgery to be done with a very small incision. The procedure lasts for <30 minutes and patients are typically able to resume normal routine from the very next day!

Laparoscopic procedure is typically favoured by surgeons these days as it is a faster procedure (<30 minutes), involves <1 cm cut / incision which significantly reduces infection risk, and allows for a faster recovery. Patients can typically resume normal routine from the very next day.

Yes, most insurance schemes cover laparoscopic cholecystectomy. For more information on your scheme, you can contact our health representatives.

Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin on the penis head cannot be stretched and is too tight to pull back.

Some of the common symptoms of phimosis are painful urination, skin irritation, bulging of the foreskin, and scarring of the foreskin.

There are two types of phimosis; physiologic phimosis (occurs in newborns and babies) and pathologic phimosis (occurs in boys and adults).

Frequent foreskin infections, urinary tract infections, and retracting the foreskin forcibly can increase the risk of phimosis

Untreated phimosis can lead to increased swelling and in extreme cases, it can result in necrosis and then gangrene. Untreated phimosis can also lead to penile carcinoma.

Structural penile abnormalities might affect fertility. But, phimosis does not interfere with fertility. If there is any discomfort during the intercourse, it can be treated by minor surgery.

In most cases, phimosis gets resolved on its own before reaching adolescence. However, this might not happen with everyone suffering from phimosis.

Surgery helps to separate the foreskin and then the incision is stitched up.

Tumours of the fat cells are known as lipoma. They occur due to the overgrowth of fat cells

It is very rare that a lipoma can turn into cancerous sarcoma which is known as liposarcoma. Require immediate treatment if a lipoma is growing or is painful.

Usually lipoma won’t go away without treatment. But, in rare cases they might not require treatment and are neither painful. Rarely these lipomas can become infected.

Tumours of the fat cells are known as lipoma. It is very rare that a lipoma can turn into cancerous sarcoma which is known as liposarcoma.

The exact causes of lipoma remains unclear. However, they tend to run in families and can be developed as a hereditary condition.

Although lipoma can occur at any age group, people between 40 to 60 years of age can be at a higher risk.

Usually, lipoma can develop in any part of the body. But, arms, legs, forehead, shoulders, and trunk are where most commonly lipomas develop.

An inflamed appendix will burst, spilling bacteria and debris into the abdominal cavity. This can be fatal.

Yes, In uncomplicated case usually where appendix is swollen but has not ruptured can be treated by anitbiotics. At Ayu Health, our intent is to find the most optimal cure for our patients. The doctor will only recommend a surgical procedure if needed.

Don’t take any enemas or laxatives to relieve constipation. These medicines increase the chances of the appendix to burst. Avoid taking painkillers before seeing the doctor, because it will make diagnosis difficult

There is mild pain after laparoscopic surgery at the incision sites.

There is no way to prevent appendicitis but it may be less common in people who eat foods high in fibre such as fresh fruits and vegetables

Appendicitis is a painful condition that occurs due to infection and swelling of the appendix. It starts as a mild pain near the navel and progresses towards the lower abdomen causing severe pain. You’ll need immediate surgery if you have appendicitis as it can be life-threatening if left untreated.

There are several reasons for appendicitis. Some of them are:

• Hard stools

• Tumours

• Worms in the intestine

• Blockage near the appendix

Some of the symptoms of appendicitis you might experience are:

• Mild pain or cramping near the navel which moves down to the lower abdomen

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Low fever

After the surgery, you should eat foods that are easy on the digestive system. Having indigestion after the surgery is not good. Some of the foods that you can include in the diet are:

• Soups and juices

• High fibre food

• Fruits and vegetables

• Avoid fatty, sugary food

Based on the swelling and infection in the appendix, the doctor will recommend the treatment. If the situation is not critical, the doctor will give you antibiotics and keep you on a liquid diet. However, if the situation is critical, immediate surgery is required.

Appendicitis is treated by laparoscopic surgery and open surgery (appendectomy).

It takes 2-3 days to recover from laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis.

The chances of recurrence of appendicitis after laparoscopic surgery is very low.

Laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis is performed through small incisions made in the abdomen.

• The patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• Three small incisions are made in the abdomen

• A tiny camera is inserted into the incision

• The camera footage is visible on a screen that guides the doctor to perform the surgery

• The appendix is removed through one of the incisions

There are very less complications through this laser treatment. Some of the risks may be:

• Allergic or adverse reaction to anaesthesia or other drugs

• Bleeding

• Blood clots

• Infection

• Injury to adjacent organs like the small intestine, bladder or ureter

The traditional procedure involves a large cut made in the abdomen which is sutured after the procedure is complete. When the appendix has burst, this surgery is preferred as the entire abdominal cavity needs to be cleaned.

• Patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• A large cut is made in the abdomen

• The appendix is directly removed from the incision

• If the appendix has burst, the abdominal cavity is cleaned and then, the cut is sutured

After an open surgery for appendicitis, one can resume normal routine after 4-6 weeks of the surgery.

The procedure involves a large cut. So, some of the risks may be:

• Injury to surrounding organs

• Infection of the colon

• Excessive bleeding

• Infection of the surgical wound

• Blood clots related to the longer recovery period after open surgery

• Risks of general anaesthesia

Bariatric Surgery is a type of surgery that is performed to induce long term excess weight loss, along with improving other conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, etc.

Surgery recommendation varies based on each patient case and is linked to a lot of parameters. At a higher level, prolonged and progressively worsening diabetes, hereditary factors, cardiac risk, response to other weight loss methods, and hormonal changes are some of the factors considered by the doctors before taking a decision.

Bariatric Surgery accomplishes weight reduction by a combination of reduction in ability to eat, as well as absorption of ingested food.

Patients can lose as much as 90% of Excess Body Weight, depending on the surgery and patient profile. The weight loss happens over a period of 6-24 months.

Most patients stay in the hospital for 24-36 hours.

Liquid diet is usually recommended for upto 3 weeks. Post that, diet will be determined by the doctor in collaboration with a dietician.

Yes, some of the complications will resolve immediately while others like sleep apnea, asthma, hypertension, high cholesterol also show improvements over time.

Diabetic foot is one of the complications of diabetes. It is referred to as the foot affected by ulceration and peripheral artery disease.

Change in the skin colour, swelling in the foot or ankle, ingrown toenails, open sores on the feet, dry cracks in the skin, and unusual foot odour that does not go away.

It was found that anywhere between 6-51% of people with diabetes develop peripheral neuropathy, which is the main cause of diabetic foot disease.

An untreated diabetic foot problem can lead to abscess, skin & bone infections, gangrene, and deformities.

If the rate of infection or the severity of the condition is worse, people have to go for foot amputation.

Proper diabetes management and necessary care to the foot can prevent foot ulcers. Lower limb amputations can be reduced by proper diabetes care.

A hernia cannot be treated through medication.A hernia can be ignored till it turns painful. If you do experience pain, you will need surgery to treat it.

The cost of the surgery varies based on the severity or complexity of the treatment, and the procedure chosen. Please refer to the procedure page for more details on Ayu Health packages.

• Inguinal hernia - The intestine or the bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the region. This type of hernia is most common in men.

• Incisional Hernia - The intestine pushes through the abdominal wall at the site of a previous abdominal surgery. This type is most common in the elderly or overweight people who are inactive after abdominal surgery.

• Umbilical hernia – A part of the small intestine passes through the abdominal wall near the navel. This type is common in new-borns.

• Femoral hernia – This type of hernia occurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral artery into the upper thigh. This is common in women, especially those who are pregnant.

• Hiatal Hernia – This hernia occurs when the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm, through which the oesophagus passes.

Yes, but the patient needs to take strict precautions for about 15-20 days after the surgery.