Best Hepatologist Doctors in India Share & Compare Reviews, Ratings, Feedbacks

Reviews of Dr. Saptarshi Bishnu - Best Hepatologist in India

Dr. Saptarshi Bishnu

Hepatologist
Chennai, India
10 Years of experience
Reviews of Dr. Sandeep Satsangi - Best Hepatologist in India

Dr. Sandeep Satsangi

Hepatologist
Bengaluru, India
7 Years of experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a Hepatologist?

Hepatologists are medical professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.

Hepatologists deal with viral hepatitis and alcohol-related disorders the most. Hepatitis affects millions of people around the world and has been linked to a variety of negative outcomes, including liver cancer and liver transplantation. Hepatitis B and C, in particular, are known to induce liver cancer. Cirrhosis and other problems have been linked to excessive alcohol intake.

What conditions do Hepatologists treat?

A hepatologist can treat a variety of conditions.

Some of them include:

  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Hepatitis
  • Ascites
  • Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
  • Cancer of the liver
  • NAFLD- Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Encephalopathy of the hepatic system
  • Obesity
  • NASH- Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
  • Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
  • Primary Biliary Cholangitis
  • Bile duct obstruction
  • Acetaminophen overdose
  • Auto-immune illnesses
  • Toxin poisoning

What are the qualifications of a Hematologist?

Hepatologists go to medical school to complete their graduation in MBBS and then finish additional training and certifications.

The qualifications may consist of the following:

  • A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is earned after four years of medical school (DO)
  • Internal medicine residency is a three-year programme.
  • An additional specialization training and certification in hepatic science and hepatology.

What diagnostic tests are required by a Hepatologist?

A variety of diagnostic tests can be requested by the hepatologists depending on the condition of the patient and the patient's medical history.

Some of them include:

  • A liver biopsy
  • Computed Tomography, also known as CT scan
  • Alkaline phosphatase test
  • Prothrombin time (PT)
  • Vitamins A, D, E, and K
  • Serum bile acid (SBA)
  • Zinc
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT test)
  • Ammonia
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
  • HIDA scan
  • Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
  • sonogram
  • Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)
  • Albumin
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Essential fatty acids (EFAs)
  • AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
  • Bilirubin
  • GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase)
  • Glucose

When should you visit a Hepatologist?

After a visit to a general physician, they might refer you to a hepatologist, based on their observation and diagnosis.

Some troubling symptoms or indicators for which a hepatologist must be consulted are mentioned below:

  • Liver problems: Cirrhosis, hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are some of the conditions that can affect the liver and require immediate attention from a hepatologist
  • Having abnormal liver function test result: Liver function tests also known as LFT in medical terms examine the functioning of your liver enzymes and proteins. In case the blood tests reveal abnormally high or low results, it could be an indicator of liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or pharmaceutical overdoses, and need a hepatologist's supervision.

Some other symptoms associated with liver problems are:

  • Gastrointestinal bleeding that occurs suddenly
  • Sudden bleeding from the upper GI tract
  • Prolonged heavy drinking: It causes lesions and irregular veins in the esophagus and stomach, resulting in bleeding or blood vomiting
  • Jaundice: When your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow, it's called jaundice. The yellow color is caused by an excess of bilirubin, a type of bile pigment that occurs when hemoglobin is broken down.

What can you expect from your first visit with a Hepatologist?

At your first consultation, a hepatology expert/ hepatologist will take a thorough history of your symptoms and coordinate the required tests to arrive at a diagnosis as quickly as possible.

  • This will most likely include a variety of scans and blood tests, as well as a liver biopsy.
  • Depending on the diagnosis, your treatment options may include pills and other medications, surgery, liver ablation to destroy a tumor or simple monitoring.
  • The physician will provide you with advice on how to improve your health through lifestyle changes.
  • You can expect a thorough discussion on the liver history and symptoms with your doctor.

How to choose the best doctors in India?

Finding a doctor before you get sick is a critical step in your health, and you should check with the doctor's experience first, then search for organised and friendly office staff, as well as the ability to work effectively with you; after all, it is your body and health. Begin by inquiring about the names of your friends and family's favourite doctors.

  • According to a recent survey, the most valuable technique to find the top doctors in India is to seek a referral from family or friends. You might also look up a doctor's ranking on the internet.
  • Examine their credentials; you are not limited to doctors who graduated from the most prestigious medical school, hospital where they completed their residency or practice location.
  • Instead, look for a board-certified doctor who is linked with a reputable institution. When compared to unaffiliated community hospitals, academic hospitals perform better in terms of patient safety and favourable outcomes. Before choosing the top doctors in India, you should evaluate the quality of hospitals in India.

Patients who had empathic and involved doctors felt more supported and were better equipped to take control of their own health, according to a new study. As a result, a skilled doctor should pay attention to the patient. As a patient, you can learn more about the prospective doctor and see for yourself whether the staff is pleasant and professional. You can phone them and observe how they greet you; this will tell you whether he or she runs a practice where patients are treated with dignity. You should also feel at ease with the doctor who will be administering your treatment.

Which are some of the most common types of doctors patients seek out in India?

Learning never stops in the medical field. Doctors must continually study and update their expertise. Doctors must choose from a number of medical disciplines in order to have a successful and prosperous career. Furthermore, medical specialists are in high demand all around the world. Doctors who possess decent behaviour, are trained in clinical abilities, and have high education is preferred by the patients. Doctors must deal with life and death circumstances, which makes it even more crucial to seek only the best-rated doctors in your area. If you live in India or are travelling from outside, here are some of the best-rated doctors you can consult:

  • Cosmetic surgeon
  • Bone marrow transplant specialist
  • Cardiologist
  • Bariatric surgeon
  • Ayurvedic doctor
  • Orthopaedist
  • Nephrologist & Urologist
  • Paediatrician
  • Dermatologist
  • Cancer Care specialist
  • Spine specialists
  • Plastic Surgeons
  • Vascular Surgeons
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Colorectal Surgeons
  • Critical Care specialist
  • Liver treatment specialist
  • Emergency physician
  • Sports specialist and surgeon
  • Pulmonologist

Which are the most popular treatments availed in India?

India has some of the best medical care and treatment options in the country. Visitors from all over the world come to experience the top-class treatments, making it a famous and popular travel destination. Foreigners are welcome to visit the country's certified physicians and nurses. Everyone's health is a priority, especially in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. Many general practitioners from around the world have referred their patients to India for specialised treatments. The following are some of the most popular therapies in India:

  • Neurosciences
  • ENT (Otolaryngology)
  • Nephrology & Urology
  • Paediatrics
  • Dermatology
  • Cancer Care
  • Spine treatments
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Critical Care
  • Liver treatments
  • Emergency
  • Sports Medicine and Surgery
  • Transplants
  • Pulmonology
  • Face Lift
  • Hair Transplant
  • Breast Augmentation
  • Tummy Tuck and Liposuction
  • Bone marrow transplant
  • Cardiovascular treatment
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Ayurvedic treatments
  • Orthopaedic treatment
  • Homoeopathic treatments

What is the level of expertise that is offered by doctors and surgeons in India?

In hospitals, there is a doctor hierarchy with varying levels of responsibility and training. Regardless of specialisation, a doctor can advance to any level in this hierarchy depending on ambition and training. The level of expertise of a doctor or surgeon varies according to their level in the organization. India’s healthcare sector is teeming with doctors, varying from highly-trained specialists with 10-20 years of expertise to those who are new to the professional field. Fellows and interns can be found working in a wide range of hospitals, especially those linked with a medical school or institute. After examining their degree of knowledge, the patient must make a decision and select the appropriate doctor/specialist. When looking for competency, financial considerations come into play as well; the higher the cost of visits and treatment, the better the doctor's expertise. A patient can visit a healthcare provider of their choice after carefully analysing all of their individual preferences and prioritising the medical concern.

Why is India a preferred medical destination?

Although India has a large healthcare system, there are still significant-quality discrepancies between rural and urban areas, as well as between public and private healthcare providers. Despite this, due to the relatively low costs and good quality of its private institutions, India is a popular destination for medical tourists. International travellers who come to India for sophisticated medical care should expect to rely on private hospitals. Other medical tourism hotspots in India include Bengaluru, Chandigarh Capital Region (CCR), Delhi NCR (including Gurugram and Faridabad), Jaipur, Kerala, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Hisar Medicity is a planned and under construction hub. The government has abolished visa limitations on tourist visas that required people from Gulf nations to wait two months between visits, which is expected to increase medical tourism. For tourists from certain countries, a visa-on-arrival scheme has been implemented, allowing foreign nationals to stay in India for 30 days for medical reasons. Bangladeshis, Afghans, Maldivians, Republic of Korea citizens, and Nigerians received the most medical visas in 2016. Despite the diversity of Indian languages, English is the official language and is widely spoken by the majority of the population making it easy for tourists to choose India as their preferred medical destination.