Health Library
A plain-language guide to the stomach, intestine, liver, gallbladder and pancreas conditions we treat in Solapur — and the endoscopy procedures used to diagnose them.
Stomach & Food Pipe Conditions
Conditions affecting the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach and duodenum — among the most common reasons patients consult a gastroenterologist.
Acidity, Heartburn & Acid Reflux (GERD)
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the food pipe, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat, sour belching, or a bitter taste — often after meals or on lying down. Frequent symptoms may indicate gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Smaller meals, avoiding late-night eating, reducing spicy and oily food, limiting alcohol and tobacco, weight reduction and raising the head end of the bed all help. If symptoms persist despite medication, an upper GI endoscopy may be advised.
Also searched as: acidity problem, chhati me jalan, heartburn, hyperacidity, reflux treatmentGastritis, Peptic Ulcer & H. pylori
Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining; when the lining erodes deeper it forms a peptic ulcer in the stomach or duodenum. Typical symptoms are burning upper abdominal pain, nausea, early fullness and bloating.
Common causes include Helicobacter pylori infection, long-term painkiller (NSAID) use, alcohol and smoking. H. pylori can be detected and treated with a specific course of medication, and endoscopy helps confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.
Also searched as: stomach ulcer treatment, gas and burning in stomach, H pylori testIndigestion, Bloating & Gas Trouble
Persistent fullness after small meals, upper abdominal discomfort, excessive gas or bloating is often labelled functional dyspepsia — meaning symptoms are real but no structural disease is found on testing.
Dietary triggers, eating patterns, stress and gut motility all contribute. Evaluation is important to exclude ulcers, H. pylori, gallstones and, in older patients or those with warning signs, more serious causes.
Also searched as: gas problem treatment, pet phulna, bloating after eating, indigestionDifficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia) & Achalasia
Food sticking in the chest, needing water to push food down, or regurgitating undigested food should never be ignored. Causes include oesophageal stricture (narrowing), achalasia (a motility disorder where the lower food pipe fails to relax), reflux-related inflammation and, importantly, tumours.
Endoscopy and, where needed, motility testing establish the cause. Narrowed segments can often be treated with endoscopic dilatation.
Also searched as: food stuck in throat, swallowing problem treatment, ghas nigalne me takleefBarrett's Oesophagus
Long-standing acid reflux can change the lining of the lower food pipe — a condition called Barrett's oesophagus. It usually causes no symptoms of its own beyond the underlying reflux.
It matters because it carries a small increased risk of oesophageal cancer over time, so periodic endoscopic surveillance with techniques such as narrow band imaging is recommended once diagnosed.
Gastroparesis & Motility Disorders
When the stomach empties too slowly, patients experience nausea, vomiting of old food, early fullness and unpredictable blood sugars. It is seen more often in people with long-standing diabetes.
Diagnosis involves excluding a physical blockage by endoscopy, followed by dietary modification and medication to improve gut movement.
Stomach & Oesophageal Cancer
Warning signs include progressive difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, black stools or vomiting of blood, and new persistent upper abdominal pain in an older patient.
Early diagnosis by endoscopy with biopsy makes a substantial difference to outcomes. Dr. Chhanchure's training at Tata Memorial Hospital, a dedicated cancer centre, covers the early detection and endoscopic management of gastrointestinal malignancy.
Also searched as: stomach cancer symptoms, food pipe cancer, GI cancer specialist SolapurVomiting Blood & Black Stools (Upper GI Bleeding)
Vomiting blood (haematemesis) or passing black, tarry stools (melena) is a medical emergency and needs immediate assessment. Causes include peptic ulcers, oesophageal varices in liver disease, and tears in the food pipe lining.
Urgent endoscopy both identifies the bleeding point and treats it — through injection, clipping, heat therapy or variceal band ligation.
Also searched as: blood in vomit, black motion, khoon ki ultiIntestine, Colon & Rectal Conditions
Long-term bowel symptoms deserve a proper diagnosis rather than repeated self-medication.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS causes recurring abdominal pain or cramping along with altered bowel habits — diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating between the two — plus bloating and a sense of incomplete evacuation. Symptoms often worsen with stress or particular foods.
It is a genuine and manageable condition. Diagnosis involves confirming the typical pattern and excluding other diseases; treatment combines dietary changes, gut-directed medication and lifestyle measures.
Also searched as: IBS treatment, spastic colon, loose motion problem, nervous stomachInflammatory Bowel Disease — Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis
IBD is chronic immune-mediated inflammation of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and rectum, typically causing bloody diarrhoea and urgency; Crohn's disease can affect any part of the gut, causing pain, diarrhoea and weight loss.
Unlike IBS, IBD causes visible inflammation and requires long-term specialist management with medication, monitoring and periodic colonoscopy.
Also searched as: ulcerative colitis treatment, Crohn's disease doctor, blood in loose motionChronic Constipation
Infrequent stools, hard stools, straining or a feeling of incomplete evacuation lasting several months is worth evaluating — particularly when it begins in later life or is a change from your normal pattern.
Most cases respond to fibre, fluids, activity and structured treatment. A new, persistent change in bowel habit in an adult over 45 should prompt a colonoscopy to exclude an obstructing lesion.
Also searched as: constipation treatment, kabj ka ilaj, hard stool problemChronic Diarrhoea & Malabsorption
Diarrhoea lasting more than four weeks, greasy stools that float, or diarrhoea accompanied by weight loss and nutritional deficiency suggests malabsorption rather than a simple infection.
Causes include coeliac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, chronic pancreatitis, IBD and infections such as tuberculosis of the intestine, which remains relevant in India.
Coeliac Disease & Food Intolerance
Coeliac disease is an immune reaction to gluten found in wheat, barley and rye. It can present with diarrhoea and weight loss, but equally with anaemia, fatigue, poor growth in children, or no gut symptoms at all.
Diagnosis uses blood tests and confirmatory small bowel biopsy at endoscopy — importantly, while you are still eating gluten. Lactose intolerance is a separate, commoner cause of milk-related bloating and diarrhoea.
Piles, Fissure & Rectal Bleeding
Bright red bleeding during or after passing stool is most often due to haemorrhoids (piles) or an anal fissure, which also causes sharp pain during defecation.
However, rectal bleeding should never simply be assumed to be piles — especially over the age of 40, or when accompanied by weight loss, altered bowel habit or anaemia. Endoscopic evaluation rules out polyps and colorectal cancer, and piles themselves can be treated endoscopically with band ligation.
Also searched as: piles doctor Solapur, bawaseer ka ilaj, blood in stool, fissure treatmentColon Polyps & Colorectal Cancer Screening
Most colorectal cancers begin as small growths called polyps, which usually cause no symptoms for years. Removing a polyp during colonoscopy (polypectomy) prevents it from ever becoming a cancer — which is why screening works so well.
Screening is generally considered from around age 45–50, and earlier if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, IBD, or symptoms such as bleeding or a persistent change in bowel habit.
Also searched as: colonoscopy in Solapur, colon cancer screening, colon polyp removalDiverticular Disease
Small pouches can form in the wall of the colon with age, particularly on a low-fibre diet. They are often silent and found incidentally on colonoscopy.
Occasionally they become inflamed (diverticulitis), causing left-sided abdominal pain and fever, or they may bleed. Both situations need medical assessment.
Liver Conditions
The liver rarely complains early. Many liver diseases are silent until they are advanced, which is why timely evaluation matters.
Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD / MASLD)
Fatty liver means excess fat has accumulated in the liver cells. It is increasingly common in India and is frequently discovered incidentally on an ultrasound done for another reason, often with no symptoms at all.
Early fatty liver can often be improved through sustained weight reduction, regular physical activity, a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, and good control of diabetes and cholesterol. Left unmonitored it can progress to inflammation (steatohepatitis), scarring and eventually cirrhosis.
Also searched as: fatty liver treatment, grade 1 fatty liver, liver me charbi, fatty liver dietAlcohol-Related Liver Disease
Regular alcohol use can progress through fatty liver, to alcoholic hepatitis, and finally to cirrhosis. The early stages are often reversible; the later stages are not.
Stopping alcohol is the single most effective treatment at every stage, supported by nutritional care and management of complications. Help with alcohol dependence is part of the treatment, not separate from it.
Also searched as: alcoholic liver treatment, liver damage from alcoholViral Hepatitis — A, B, C and E
Hepatitis A and E usually spread through contaminated food and water and cause a short-lived illness with jaundice. Hepatitis B and C spread through blood and body fluids and can persist for years without symptoms while quietly damaging the liver.
Chronic hepatitis B is controlled with long-term antiviral treatment, and hepatitis C is now curable in the large majority of patients with a short oral course. Both need proper testing, staging and follow-up — and hepatitis B is preventable by vaccination.
Also searched as: hepatitis B treatment, hepatitis C cure, HBsAg positive, kamlaJaundice (Yellowing of Eyes & Skin)
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin builds up in the blood. It is a sign, not a disease in itself, pointing to something affecting the liver, the bile ducts or the red blood cells.
Causes range widely — viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, gallstones or a blocked bile duct, drug-induced liver injury, and certain blood disorders. Because the causes vary from mild to serious, jaundice should always be evaluated promptly rather than treated at home.
Also searched as: jaundice treatment Solapur, kamla ka ilaj, yellow eyes causes, piliyaCirrhosis & Portal Hypertension
Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver from any long-standing injury — alcohol, hepatitis B or C, or fatty liver disease. The scarring obstructs blood flow through the liver, raising pressure in the portal vein.
This leads to complications such as oesophageal varices (which can bleed), fluid in the abdomen and confusion. Cirrhosis cannot be undone, but its progression can be slowed and its complications actively prevented and treated with regular specialist follow-up.
Also searched as: liver cirrhosis treatment Solapur, liver damage treatment, cirrhosis stagesAscites & Hepatic Encephalopathy
Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, causing progressive swelling and breathlessness. It is managed with salt restriction, diuretics and, when needed, drainage — with testing of the fluid to exclude infection.
Hepatic encephalopathy is confusion, disturbed sleep pattern, or altered behaviour caused by toxins the damaged liver can no longer clear. It is treatable, and recognising it early prevents hospitalisation.
Also searched as: pet me pani bharna, stomach swelling liver, ascites treatmentLiver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
Liver cancer usually develops on a background of cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B, which is why patients with these conditions are advised regular surveillance with ultrasound and blood tests.
Detected early, treatment options are far wider and outcomes far better. Dr. Chhanchure's DM training and subsequent faculty role at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, focused substantially on gastrointestinal and liver malignancy.
Autoimmune & Inherited Liver Disease
Not all liver disease is caused by alcohol or infection. Autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis and inherited disorders such as Wilson's disease and haemochromatosis can all cause abnormal liver tests or cirrhosis.
These are diagnosed with specific antibody and metabolic testing, and many respond well to targeted long-term treatment — making an accurate diagnosis genuinely worthwhile.
Gallbladder, Bile Duct & Pancreas
These conditions often need advanced endoscopic procedures such as ERCP and EUS, which are performed on-site.
Gallstones & Gallbladder Disease
Gallstones are common and often silent. When they cause trouble, the typical symptom is severe pain in the right upper abdomen after fatty meals, sometimes radiating to the back or right shoulder, with nausea and vomiting.
Complications include inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) and stones migrating into the bile duct, which causes jaundice and requires endoscopic removal.
Also searched as: gallbladder stone treatment, pittashay ki pathri, gallstone painBile Duct Stones & Blockage
A stone or narrowing obstructing the bile duct causes jaundice, itching, pale stools, dark urine and often fever with pain — a combination that needs urgent attention as it can lead to a serious infection (cholangitis).
ERCP is the definitive treatment: stones are removed and, where a stricture or tumour is causing the blockage, a stent is placed to restore bile flow, usually without any surgery.
Also searched as: ERCP in Solapur, bile duct stone removal, CBD stone treatmentAcute Pancreatitis
Sudden, severe upper abdominal pain boring through to the back, with vomiting, is the classic presentation. The commonest causes in India are gallstones and alcohol.
It ranges from a mild illness to a life-threatening one, so early assessment, fluid management and identifying the underlying cause — to prevent recurrence — are all essential.
Also searched as: pancreatitis treatment Solapur, pancreas pain, pancreatitis symptomsChronic Pancreatitis
Repeated or ongoing inflammation gradually damages the pancreas, causing persistent pain, greasy stools from poor fat digestion, weight loss, and eventually diabetes.
Management includes pain control, pancreatic enzyme replacement, nutritional support, addressing alcohol where relevant, and endoscopic treatment of duct stones or strictures.
Pancreatic Cysts & Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic lesions are increasingly picked up on scans done for other reasons. Distinguishing a harmless cyst from one needing treatment — or from an early cancer — is a specialised task.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides the most detailed imaging of the pancreas available and allows a guided tissue sample (FNA/FNB) to be taken through the stomach wall for a definite diagnosis.
Also searched as: EUS in Solapur, pancreatic cyst, pancreas cancer symptomsLiver Abscess
A collection of pus in the liver causes fever with chills, pain in the right upper abdomen and marked tiredness. Amoebic and bacterial abscesses both occur in India.
Most respond well to appropriate antibiotic or anti-amoebic treatment, with image-guided drainage where the collection is large.
Endoscopy Procedures Explained
Knowing what a procedure involves removes most of the anxiety around it. All of the following are performed by Dr. Chhanchure.
Upper GI Endoscopy (Gastroscopy)
A thin flexible camera is passed through the mouth to examine the food pipe, stomach and duodenum. It is the definitive test for reflux damage, gastritis, ulcers, H. pylori, coeliac disease and upper GI cancers, and biopsies can be taken painlessly.
You will be asked to fast beforehand. A throat spray numbs the area and sedation is used where appropriate. The examination itself usually takes only a few minutes and is done as day care.
Also searched as: endoscopy in Solapur, gastroscopy, durbeen test, is endoscopy painfulColonoscopy & Sigmoidoscopy
A flexible camera examines the entire large intestine to investigate rectal bleeding, altered bowel habit, chronic diarrhoea, anaemia or abdominal pain — and to screen for and remove polyps before they can become cancer.
The bowel must be thoroughly cleaned beforehand using a prescribed preparation along with a light or liquid diet. Tell the clinic about all your medicines, especially blood thinners and diabetes medication.
Also searched as: colonoscopy in Solapur, colonoscopy preparation, colonoscopy costERCP — Bile Duct & Pancreatic Duct Treatment
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography treats problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts without open surgery. Bile duct stones are removed, narrowed segments are opened, and stents are placed to relieve obstruction and jaundice.
ERCP is an advanced procedure requiring specific training and experience; Dr. Chhanchure has performed over 400 of them.
Also searched as: ERCP specialist Solapur, bile duct stent, ERCP procedureEUS — Endoscopic Ultrasound
EUS combines endoscopy with high-resolution ultrasound from inside the gut, giving the clearest available view of the pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder and the wall layers of the digestive tract.
It is used to assess pancreatic lesions, unexplained bile duct dilatation and to stage GI cancers — and allows a needle biopsy to be taken under direct ultrasound guidance.
Also searched as: EUS test, endoscopic ultrasound Solapur, EUS guided biopsyTherapeutic & Emergency Endoscopy
Beyond diagnosis, endoscopy treats: variceal band ligation to stop or prevent bleeding in liver disease; injection, clipping and heat therapy for bleeding ulcers; balloon dilatation of strictures; and stenting of the food pipe, bile duct or bowel to relieve blockage.
Polyps are removed by polypectomy, and swallowed foreign bodies are retrieved endoscopically.
Feeding Tube & PEG Placement
When a patient cannot swallow safely — after a stroke, or with head and neck or oesophageal cancer — nutrition can be delivered directly into the stomach through a tube placed endoscopically (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy).
PEG placement is a short procedure that considerably improves nutrition, medication delivery and quality of life for such patients and their families.
When Should You See a Gastroenterologist?
Some symptoms are worth acting on rather than waiting out. Please seek a specialist opinion if you notice any of the following.
Seek prompt medical attention
Vomiting blood or passing black, tarry stools · severe unrelenting abdominal pain · yellowing of the eyes or skin · vomiting that prevents you from keeping fluids down · abdominal swelling with breathlessness · confusion or drowsiness in someone with known liver disease.
Book a consultation soon
Acidity or heartburn persisting despite medication · recurring abdominal pain · difficulty swallowing · unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite · a lasting change in bowel habit · blood in the stool · chronic diarrhoea or constipation · persistent bloating · abnormal liver function tests or a fatty liver reported on ultrasound · a family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or chronic liver disease.
Common Questions from Patients
A gastroenterologist is the specialist for conditions of the food pipe, stomach, intestines, colon, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. A hepatologist focuses specifically on liver disease. Dr. Utkarsh Chhanchure is qualified in both gastroenterology and hepatology, and also performs advanced endoscopic procedures such as ERCP and EUS.
An upper GI endoscopy is generally well tolerated. A throat spray numbs the area and, where appropriate, sedation is given so that you remain comfortable. Most patients describe mild discomfort rather than pain. The procedure usually takes only a few minutes and is performed as day care.
In its early stages fatty liver can often be improved or reversed through sustained weight reduction, regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, and good control of diabetes and cholesterol. If left unmonitored it can progress to inflammation and scarring, so periodic evaluation is important.
Screening colonoscopy is generally considered from around the age of 45 to 50 for people at average risk. It may be advised earlier with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or symptoms such as rectal bleeding or a persistent change in bowel habit. Your doctor will advise the right timing for your individual risk.
The bowel must be completely clean so the lining can be seen clearly. You will usually follow a light or liquid diet for a period beforehand and take a prescribed bowel preparation solution. Inform the clinic about any medicines you take, especially blood thinners and diabetes medication. Exact instructions vary and will be given to you once your procedure is scheduled.
ERCP is mainly therapeutic — used to treat bile duct and pancreatic duct problems such as removing stones or placing a stent to relieve a blockage. EUS combines endoscopy with ultrasound imaging to examine the pancreas, bile duct and surrounding structures in detail, and allows a tissue sample to be taken when needed.
No. Piles and anal fissures are the commonest causes, but rectal bleeding can also come from polyps, inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer. Bleeding should not simply be assumed to be piles — particularly over the age of 40, or with weight loss, altered bowel habit or anaemia. An examination and, where indicated, a colonoscopy give a definite answer.
Hepatitis C is now curable in the large majority of patients with a short oral course of antiviral tablets. Chronic hepatitis B is not usually cured but is very effectively controlled with long-term antiviral treatment, which greatly reduces the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Both need proper testing, staging and regular follow-up.
The information in this Health Library is general patient education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Symptoms can have several different causes, and only a personal consultation and appropriate testing can establish what is happening in your case. Please consult Dr. Chhanchure or a qualified doctor about your individual symptoms.
Still have questions about your symptoms?
Book a consultation with Dr. Utkarsh Chhanchure for a proper evaluation and a clear treatment plan.