Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Treatments Offered

Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD)
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
Small Bowel Enteroscopy
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Advanced Endoscopic Imaging (e.g. Dye Chromoendoscopy, Narrow Band Imaging)
Therapeutic Endoscopy (e.g. Endoscopic treatment for Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Banding of Esophageal Varices, Esophageal Dilatation, Esophageal and Colonic Stent)
Insertion of Naso-Jejnual tube and Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
Capsule Endoscopy
Fibroscan
Esophageal pH Monitoring and Manometry
Gastrointestinal Transit Studies

FAQs

Why do I burp, pass wind so much and feel bloated?

These are common digestive symptoms which can have a wide variety of causes, ranging from food intolerance, stress and hormonal change to functional digestive disorders and other more serious conditions. A majority of people who experience intermittent bloating and flatulence improve with treatment and dietary discretion. However, if your symptoms are prolonged and do not respond to treatment, or when serious symptoms occur (e.g. weight loss, inability to finish usual portions of food, frequent vomiting), your Gastroenterologist may recommend that you undergo further evaluation for medical conditions like impaired gastrointestinal motility or cancer.

Should I worry if I cannot swallow properly?

Difficulty swallowing can have various possible causes, ranging from esophageal disorders to diseases of the brain and neuromuscular system. Your Gastroenterologist will take a detailed history and perform a physical examination to better understand your condition so that appropriate investigations and treatment can be arranged.

There has been a change in bowel habit e.g. diarrhoea/ constipation. Is this serious?

Change in bowel habit can occur depending on various factors e.g. diet, water consumption and medications. This change may be transient and self-limiting. However, prolonged change in bowel habit, especially when accompanied by other worrisome symptoms (e.g. blood in stool, unintentional weight loss and abdominal pain) will warrant further investigation for more serious conditions such as cancer and inflammation of the intestines.

I have fatty liver disease. Is it dangerous?

Fatty liver is a common finding and represents accumulation of fat in the liver. People who are overweight, have metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol), or who drink heavily are at risk of fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease can lead to liver inflammation (steatohepatitis), which causes progressive liver damage and may result eventually in hardening of the liver (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

As fatty liver often has no symptoms, it may only be detected if you have high liver enzyme levels on a blood test (which indicates liver inflammation) or if seen on an abdominal scan. If you are being evaluated for fatty liver disease, your Gastroenterologist will investigate for other possible causes of liver inflammation, stratify your risk for progressive liver disease based on tests quantifying the damage to the liver, and advise you on how best to manage your fatty liver.

Our Care Team

Your inpatient and outpatient care for digestive and liver diseases is in good hands with the SKH Gastroenterology and Hepatology team. Equipped with a state-of-the-art endoscopy centre and access to contemporaneous drug therapy, our experienced Gastroenterologists are committed to providing quality and holistic care to patients with digestive and liver conditions. If you or your loved ones need a diagnosis, treatment or a second opinion, please make an appointment with us here.