Digestive and liver conditions rarely announce themselves clearly. Most start with symptoms that are easy to dismiss — a little acidity, some bloating, occasional discomfort — until they are not so easy to dismiss anymore.
Dr. Sushrut Singh, Additional Director of Gastroenterology at Fortis Hospital, Sector 62, Noida, diagnoses and treats the full range of digestive, liver, and gastrointestinal conditions — from the common to the complex. If you are experiencing any of the conditions below, the right starting point is a consultation.
Fatty liver is the most common liver condition in India — and most people who have it feel completely normal until it has already progressed. Excess fat deposits in the liver can silently advance from simple steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis over years without any symptoms.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: FibroScan to accurately stage the disease, personalised medical management, and if obesity is the driver — the Obesity Management Program including Bariatric Endoscopy.
Cirrhosis is the end stage of repeated liver damage — where healthy liver tissue is replaced by permanent scar tissue. Once cirrhosis develops, the focus shifts to preventing complications including fluid accumulation, infection, GI bleeding from varices, and liver cancer.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Regular surveillance endoscopy, variceal banding (EVL) to prevent bleeding, FibroScan monitoring, and coordinated care with the liver transplant team at Fortis when needed.
Chronic viral hepatitis — particularly Hepatitis B and C — is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer in India. Both conditions can remain asymptomatic for years while silently damaging the liver. Early detection and treatment prevent progression entirely in most cases.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Antiviral therapy, regular liver function monitoring, FibroScan staging to assess liver damage, and screening for liver cancer in high-risk patients.
Jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes — is a symptom, not a disease. It can indicate liver disease, bile duct obstruction from stones or a tumour, or a haemolytic condition. The cause determines the treatment, and accurate diagnosis is essential.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Depending on the cause — ERCP to relieve bile duct obstruction from stones or strictures, stenting for malignant obstruction, or medical management for liver-related jaundice.
Regular heavy alcohol consumption causes a spectrum of liver damage — from alcoholic fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis. Unlike NAFLD, alcoholic liver disease can progress rapidly — even in younger patients.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Alcohol cessation support, medical management of liver inflammation, FibroScan monitoring, and management of cirrhosis complications where present.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is one of the most common GI conditions — and one of the most undertreated. Persistent acid reflux damages the oesophageal lining and in some patients leads to Barrett's oesophagus, a pre-cancerous condition that requires regular surveillance.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Upper GI Endoscopy to assess oesophageal damage and rule out Barrett's, medical management, and lifestyle-targeted weight reduction where obesity is a contributing factor.
Ulcers in the stomach or duodenum are most commonly caused by H. pylori infection or long-term NSAID use. Left untreated, they can bleed — sometimes severely — or perforate.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Upper GI Endoscopy to confirm diagnosis, H. pylori testing and eradication, and if actively bleeding — endoscopic haemostasis to stop the bleed without surgery.
Gastritis — inflammation of the stomach lining — is most commonly caused by H. pylori bacterial infection. It can also be caused by autoimmune conditions, NSAID use, or bile reflux. H. pylori infection significantly increases the risk of peptic ulcers and stomach cancer if untreated.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Upper GI Endoscopy with biopsy for H. pylori testing, targeted antibiotic eradication therapy, and follow-up to confirm successful treatment.
Difficulty swallowing — whether food getting stuck, a sensation of food not going down, or pain on swallowing — is always a symptom that requires investigation. Causes range from benign strictures to oesophageal cancer.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Upper GI Endoscopy to identify the cause — if a stricture is found, endoscopic dilatation to restore swallowing in the same or a subsequent procedure.
IBS is one of the most common GI diagnoses — and one of the most frequently mismanaged. It is a functional disorder, meaning the bowel looks structurally normal but does not work normally. The challenge is ruling out other conditions that mimic IBS before committing to that diagnosis.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Thorough evaluation to exclude IBD, infections, and other structural causes — followed by evidence-based dietary and medical management tailored to your IBS subtype.
IBD is a chronic, immune-mediated condition causing ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract. Unlike IBS, IBD causes structural damage — and if not managed properly, can lead to serious complications including strictures, fistulas, and colorectal cancer.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Colonoscopy to assess disease extent and activity, biopsy for histological confirmation, and ongoing medical management to achieve and maintain remission.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers — because it almost always develops from polyps that take years to become malignant. Colonoscopy detects and removes polyps before they turn cancerous. This is the most effective cancer prevention tool available in gastroenterology.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Colonoscopy for detection and polypectomy for removal in the same procedure. Surveillance schedule then set based on polyp type and number.
Constipation lasting more than a few weeks — particularly if it is new, associated with pain, or accompanied by blood — needs medical evaluation to exclude a structural cause before being managed as a functional condition.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Assessment to exclude structural causes, colonoscopy where indicated, and medical or dietary management for confirmed functional constipation.
Acute pancreatitis — sudden inflammation of the pancreas — is most commonly caused by gallstones or alcohol. It ranges from mild and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening. Chronic pancreatitis causes permanent damage, persistent pain, and impaired digestion over time.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: ERCP to remove the underlying bile duct stone in biliary pancreatitis, EUS for complex pancreatic duct evaluation, and medical management for chronic pancreatitis pain.
Gallstones are extremely common — but when they migrate into the common bile duct, they cause obstruction, jaundice, and potentially life-threatening bile duct infection (cholangitis). This requires urgent treatment.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: ERCP to remove stones from the bile duct — no surgery required in most cases. EUS used for pre-procedure confirmation when imaging is inconclusive.
Obesity directly drives fatty liver, GERD, gallstone disease, and metabolic syndrome. For patients where lifestyle changes have not achieved sustained results — particularly where obesity is already causing organ damage — medical and endoscopic weight management is available.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: The Obesity Management Program — including FibroScan assessment, structured lifestyle guidance, and where appropriate, non-surgical Bariatric Endoscopy (Intragastric Balloon or ESG).
GI bleeding — whether from ulcers, varices, polyps, or vascular malformations — ranges from slow and chronic to sudden and life-threatening. It is always a condition that requires urgent investigation and often treatment.
How Dr. Sushrut treats it: Emergency or urgent endoscopy to identify the bleeding source — followed by immediate endoscopic haemostasis using clipping, injection, banding, or coagulation depending on the cause.
Most patients come to Dr. Sushrut with a symptom — not a confirmed diagnosis. If you are experiencing any of the following, a gastroenterology consultation is the right starting point:
| Symptom | Likely Condition to Investigate |
|---|---|
| Persistent acidity or heartburn | GERD, peptic ulcer, Barrett's oesophagus |
| Fatty liver on ultrasound | NAFLD — FibroScan to stage severity |
| Jaundice or dark urine | Bile duct obstruction, hepatitis, liver disease |
| Black or bloody stools | GI bleeding — requires urgent evaluation |
| Unexplained weight loss | Malignancy, IBD, chronic pancreatitis |
| Persistent bloating or bowel changes | IBS, IBD, colon polyps |
| Upper right abdominal pain | Gallstones, bile duct stones, liver disease |
| Severe upper abdominal pain to back | Pancreatitis — requires urgent care |
| Difficulty swallowing | Oesophageal stricture, GERD, tumour |
| Elevated SGPT or SGOT on blood test | Fatty liver, hepatitis, liver disease |