Best Doctors in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
- Apollo Children Hospital Chennai
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Neville Solomon is a distinguished Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon with over 25 years of experience in the field, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Apollo Children’s Hospital, Greams Road, Chennai.
- Renowned for his exceptional skills and dedication, Dr. Solomon has conducted over 6000 heart surgeries, addressing complex congenital heart conditions in both infants and adults.
- His commitment to advancing medical care for children with heart conditions has positioned him as a leading expert in his field.
- ENT surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 23 years’ experience
- Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Aru Chhabra Handa is a famous ENT surgeon practicing in Medanta, Gurugram who is trained in oto-rhino-layrngology. She has expertise in treating pediatric ENT patients.
- Highly experienced in all kinds of routine and advanced surgeries of the ear, nose, and throat, she is also an expert in rhinoplasty, micro ear surgery, neuro ontological disorders, endoscopic nasal and sinus surgery, as well as phono surgery.
- Throughout her career of over 23 years, Dr. Aru Chhabra Handa has served in various reputed hospitals in North India. She has also treated several cases related to tonsillitis, epistaxis, pharyngitis, ear infection, voice and speech disorders, and throat cancer.
- She is known to be among the few ENT specialists in India, specializing in adult as well as pediatric cases. She has also taken up several complex cases in her career before she joined Medanta.
- Dr. Handa also has around 40 publications in several international and national journals as well as book chapters. She is also known for being a panelist and guest faculty in several CMEs, workshops, and conferences.
- Top Interventional Radiologist | Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
- 25+ Years Experience
- Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Vivek Saxena is a highly respected Interventional Radiologist in India, with over 25 years of experience in the field.
- His speciality mainly lies in Interventional Oncology and Hepatobiliary Interventions.
- At present, Dr. Saxena serves as the Head of Department & Senior Consultant in Interventional Radiology at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Saket, New Delhi.
- Prior to this role, he held key positions as a Senior Consultant Radiologist at Majeedia Hospital & Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, as well as a Senior Registrar at Safdarjung Hospital & V M Medical College, New Delhi. He also conducted postdoctoral research as a fellow at Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, USA.
- Top Vascular Surgeon | Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India
- 23+ Years Experience
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. K K Pandey is a highly experienced Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon based in Delhi, with nearly 30 years of dedicated service in the field.
- As a prominent figure in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, Dr. Pandey brings a wealth of expertise and a compassionate approach to his practice at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi.
- Dr. Pandey is well-regarded for his extensive work in treating complex heart and vascular conditions.
- His academic qualifications include an MBBS, MS, and a Ph.D. in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS).
- Top Breast Cancer Surgeon | Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai, India
- 25+ Years Experience
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Archana Shetty is a leading Breast Cancer Surgeon with a super specialization in oncoplastic breast surgery.
- She holds an experience of more than 25 years and has spent 15 years training and practicing at the best cancer hospitals in the UK.
- Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Sunil Kumar Mishra is an experienced Endocrinologist. His experience extends to pituitary disorders, metabolic disorders of calcium and phosphorus, and excessive hair growth patterns in women.
- He has worked both in the clinical arena and educational sector during his tenure of being a doctor.
- Orthopedic surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
- Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Attique Vasdev is a renowned Orthopedic surgeon specializing in Knee surgeries.
- Currently he is the Director of Knee Unit at Bone and Joint Institute of Medanta- The Medicity and has been instrumental in starting the unit as well.
- Along with performing surgeries for all kinds of knee related diseases and disorders, he is also trained to perform sports injury surgeries.
- His principal area of interest lies in Knee replacement, Arthroscopic surgery, ligament reconstruction surgeries and Knee Osteotomy.
- Dr. Vasdev holds an immense experience of more than 25 years in knee surgeries and knee procedures. He is among the very few orthopedic surgeons in India focusing primarily in knee-related disorders.
- He organizes workshops and takes part in various CMEs and seminars where he gives live demonstration on various knee surgeries.
- He has been an invitee to various orthopedic conferences and meetings both in the national and international forum.
- Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
- Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Avinash Agarwal is a distinguished Senior Consultant specializing in cosmetic and plastic surgery, with a robust background in reconstructive, maxillofacial, burn, and cosmetic surgery.
- He has built a reputable career by honing his skills under the tutelage of esteemed faculty at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana—recognized as one of North India’s premier tertiary care centers.
- With extensive hands-on experience, Dr. Agarwal has successfully performed a wide array of complex procedures, including the management of maxillofacial injuries, traumatic limb injuries, tendon repairs, and microvascular repairs of nerves and vessels.
- ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 27 years’ experience
- Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
Profile Highlights:
- As the Chairman of the department at Medanta Gurugram, he has been instrumental in shaping and leading the department since its inception in 2009.
- Dr. K. K. Handa is a distinguished laryngologist, voice surgeon, and cochlear implant surgeon with over 32 years of experience in the field of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery.
- Before joining Medanta, Dr. Handa served as an Associate Professor in the Department of ENT at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where he was a faculty member for 13 years.
- Breast Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist, Gurugram, India
- Over 12 Years of Experience
- Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Deepak Jha is a distinguished surgical oncologist with a specialization in Breast Surgery. He is currently associated with Artemis Hospital as the Chief of Breast Surgery and Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist.
- Dr. Jha is particularly renowned for his proficiency in DIEP free flap reconstruction, a complex procedure aimed at breast reconstruction post-mastectomy.
- Additionally, his expertise spans a wide range of advanced breast surgical techniques, including Breast Conserving Surgery, Oncoplastic Surgery, Nipple Sparing Mastectomy, Radio-Guided Breast Surgery (ROLL), Sentinel Biopsy, and Arm Reverse Mapping for Lymphedema Prevention.
Best Hospitals in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
Alcoholic hepatitis is a liver infection, which is mainly caused by frequent, heavy use of alcohol. Fat can build up in the liver cells, which might lead to inflammation as well as scarring of the liver.
Alcoholic hepatitis might be mild or severe. A patient might even need a liver transplant if proper treatment is not provided, or if they don’t stop consumption of alcohol.
It is also notable that all heavy drinkers don’t develop this condition, and sometimes this condition even develops in people who drink moderately. However, if you are diagnosed with this condition, it is important for you to quit drinking alcohol. People who continue drinking alcohol might face a huge risk of serious liver damage as well as death.
Symptoms
Depending on the amount of damage to the liver, the symptoms can vary. If you are having a mild form of the disease, you might not even experience any symptoms at all. However, as the damage continues to grow, you might experience the following:
- Changes in appetite
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Changes in your mental state, including confusion
- Fatigue
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those caused by a few other health conditions. Therefore, if you develop any of these symptoms, it is best to get a proper diagnosis as well as begin treatment.
Causes & risk factors
Alcoholic hepatitis generally develops when the alcohol you drink causes damage to your liver. However, it is not clear why alcohol does this damages only to some heavy drinkers.
Few factors that are known to play a role in this condition include:
- The body’s process that breaks down alcohol produces some toxic chemicals
- These chemicals can trigger inflammation that can destroy the liver cells
- Thus, over time, scars replace healthy liver tissue, thus interfering with the function of the liver
- This irreversible scarring, which is also termed cirrhosis, is the final stage of alcoholic liver disease
If you have hepatitis C and continue to drink, even moderately, you are more likely to develop cirrhosis.
Some heavy drinkers are also malnourished because they don’t eat a proper balanced diet. Alcohol and its byproducts also prevent the body from absorbing nutrition properly. Lack of nutrition can contribute to liver cell damage.
Some other risk factors that can lead to this condition include:
- Your sex- Women are usually at a higher risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis since the way alcohol is processed in women is different.
- Binge drinking- Having over five drinks within two hours for men and four or more for women can increase the risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Obesity- Heavy drinkers who are overweight are also more likely to develop alcoholic hepatitis and to progress from that condition to cirrhosis.
- Race and ethnicity- Hispanic and Negroid people might be at higher risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Genetic factors- According to studies, there may be a genetic component in alcohol-induced liver disease. However, it is difficult to separate genetic and environmental factors.
Diagnosis
If you are showing symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, your doctor will first inquire about your medical history and alcohol consumption. Next, he/she will perform a physical exam to see if you have an enlarged liver or spleen. They might also need a few more tests to confirm your diagnosis, such as:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function test
- Ultrasound of the liver
- Abdominal CT scan
- Blood clotting tests
In some cases, a liver biopsy might also be needed to confirm the diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis. A liver biopsy requires your doctor to remove a tissue sample from your liver, which is then tested in the lab. This method helps to show the severity and type of liver disease.
Treatment
Stopping alcohol consumption is the most important treatment for alcoholic hepatitis. There is no cure for this condition, but treatment can help in reducing or eliminating symptoms, or stopping its progression.
It is also important to note that scarring of the liver is permanent, but treatment can aim to restore as much function as possible.
Dietary changes
Your doctor might also recommend dietary changes, vitamin supplements, or a focused diet plan to correct the imbalance of nutrients in the body.
Medication
Doctors might also prescribe medicines to prevent inflammation of the liver.
Liver transplant
In severe cases, the only chance for survival may be a liver transplant. Unfortunately, in such cases, the process of finding a donor can be long and complicated.
The best hope of recovery is to be aware of the signs and symptoms as well as to reduce, manage, or if possible, completely stop consumption of alcohol.
Complications
Alcoholic hepatitis might lead to severe other complications such as:
- Enlarged veins (varices)- In this condition, blood that is unable to flow freely through the portal vein, can back up into other blood vessels in your esophagus or stomach.
- Hepatic encephalopathy- This condition can be caused by the buildup of toxins if your damaged liver is unable to remove all the toxins from your body. It involves confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech.
- Ascites- Ascites is a condition in which the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen may get infected and thus, require treatment with antibiotics. Although this condition is not life-threatening, it can be a sign of advanced alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis.
- Kidney failure- A damaged liver affects blood flow to the kidneys, thus resulting in kidney failure.
- Cirrhosis- The scarring of the liver might lead to liver failure.
Prevention
Alcoholic hepatitis might be prevented if you take the following steps:
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all- For healthy adults, moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than 65, and not over two drinks a day for men aged 65 and younger. However, if you prevent all alcohol, it is a certain way to prevent this condition.
- Check before mixing medications and alcohol- Ask your doctor if it’s safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medications. Consider reading the warning labels on over-the-counter medications as well. Don’t drink alcohol when you are taking medications that warn of complications when combined with alcohol.
- Protect yourself from hepatitis C- Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease that is caused by a virus. If it is left untreated, it may lead to cirrhosis. If you are having hepatitis C and you consume alcohol, you’re generally more likely to develop cirrhosis than if you don’t drink.