About the Institute
The Institute of Gastroenterology at SIMS Hospital, Chennai, is a comprehensive centre for the complete management of digestive, herpetological, and gastrointestinal surgical conditions. Bringing together Medical Gastroenterology and Surgical Gastroenterology under one roof, the institute offers patients a seamless, integrated care experience, from diagnostic endoscopy and advanced therapeutic procedures to complex hepatobiliary surgery, robotic colorectal surgery, and obesity management.
What makes SIMS Gastroenterology genuinely different is the depth of expertise available across both the medical and surgical sides of gastroenterology care. A patient with a complex liver condition does not just see a hepatologist, they are assessed by a team that includes gastroenterologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, and radiologists, all working together toward the best possible outcome. A patient with colorectal cancer does not have to visit multiple hospitals, their endoscopy, staging, surgical planning, robotic surgery, and follow-up all happen here, managed by people who know their case inside out.
The institute is equipped with the full range of advanced endoscopic platforms including ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), capsule endoscopy, spyglass cholangioscopy, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), alongside a robotic surgical programme for oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, and complex abdominal procedures. Whether the condition is a straightforward gallstone, inflammatory bowel disease, liver failure, pancreatic cancer, or morbid obesity, the SIMS Institute of Gastroenterology has the expertise and technology to manage it at the highest level of care available in Chennai.
Key Highlights
- Comprehensive gastroenterology care under one roof covering medical gastroenterology, hepatology, and surgical gastroenterology
- Advanced therapeutic endoscopy including ERCP, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), capsule endoscopy, spyglass cholangioscopy, EMR, ESD, and POEM
- Robotic gastrointestinal surgery for oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, and complex abdominal procedures
- Dedicated Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) programme with comprehensive medical and endoscopic management
- Expert hepatology services for liver failure, portal hypertension, and liver cancer
- Minimally invasive and robotic colorectal surgery for cancer, diverticular disease, and complex bowel conditions
- Surgery for pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis including complex pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure)
- Day care laparoscopic surgery for gallstones, hernia, and appendicitis with same-day or next-day discharge
- Dedicated obesity clinic with multidisciplinary bariatric surgery and medical weight management
- Endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding with 24/7 emergency endoscopy capability
- Surgery for portal hypertension and complex GI bleeding conditions
- Enteral feeding support with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) and Jejunostomy (PEJ)
- Integrated multidisciplinary tumour board for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers
Comprehensive Services
Medical Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy The endoscopy suite at SIMS Institute of Gastroenterology offers the full range of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. Gastroduodenoscopy provides detailed visualisation of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum for diagnosis of ulcers, inflammation, Barrett's oesophagus, and early cancers. Colonoscopy allows thorough examination of the entire colon for polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and bleeding sources, with therapeutic intervention available at the time of diagnosis wherever needed.
- Capsule Endoscopy For conditions of the small bowel that cannot be reached by conventional upper or lower endoscopy, capsule endoscopy offers a non-invasive, patient-friendly alternative. The patient swallows a small wireless camera capsule that transmits thousands of images as it travels through the digestive tract, allowing the gastroenterologist to identify bleeding sources, Crohn's disease involvement, small bowel tumours, and other pathology that would otherwise be difficult to detect.
- Spyglass Cholangioscopy Spyglass cholangioscopy is an advanced endoscopic technique that allows direct visualisation inside the bile ducts, something conventional ERCP cannot provide. At SIMS, this technology is used to diagnose and treat complex biliary conditions including bile duct stones that are difficult to remove with standard techniques, strictures of the bile duct, and indeterminate biliary lesions requiring direct biopsy.
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) ERCP at SIMS is performed by experienced gastroenterologists for the diagnosis and treatment of bile duct stones, biliary strictures, pancreatic duct abnormalities, and post-surgical biliary complications. It remains one of the most technically demanding endoscopic procedures, and the volume and experience of the SIMS team ensures it is performed safely and effectively.
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Endoscopic ultrasound combines the precision of high-frequency ultrasound with the access of endoscopy, allowing detailed visualisation of structures adjacent to the gastrointestinal wall including the pancreas, bile ducts, liver, lymph nodes, and submucosal lesions. EUS at SIMS is used for diagnosis, cancer staging, and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, providing tissue diagnosis without the need for open surgery.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Programme Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong conditions that require expert, continuous management. The comprehensive IBD programme at SIMS offers personalised treatment plans combining medical therapy, biological and immunosuppressive treatments, endoscopic monitoring, nutritional support, and close long-term follow-up, giving patients with IBD the sustained expert care their condition demands.
- Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR), Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD), and POEM Advanced endoscopic resection techniques at SIMS allow early gastrointestinal cancers and large polyps to be removed entirely through the endoscope, without open surgery. EMR and ESD are used for early oesophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers detected at a stage where endoscopic cure is possible. Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) is a revolutionary endoscopic treatment for achalasia cardia, offering patients with severe swallowing disorders a minimally invasive alternative to conventional surgery.
- Endoscopic Management of Gastrointestinal Bleeding Acute upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a medical emergency that requires immediate endoscopic assessment and intervention. The SIMS gastroenterology team provides 24/7 emergency endoscopy capability for GI bleeding, with a full range of haemostatic techniques available including injection therapy, thermal coagulation, endoscopic clipping, and banding for oesophageal varices.
- Liver Failure Management The hepatology service at SIMS manages all forms of acute and chronic liver failure including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, and decompensated cirrhosis. Treatment is multidisciplinary, combining medical management, nutritional support, management of complications including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and variceal bleeding, and coordination with transplant services when indicated.
- PEG and PEJ (Enteral Feeding) Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) and Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy (PEJ) are endoscopically placed feeding tubes that provide long-term nutritional support for patients who are unable to swallow safely due to neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, or critical illness. These procedures are performed safely and efficiently at SIMS with appropriate post-procedure care and patient and carer education.
Surgical Gastroenterology
- Day Care Laparoscopic Surgery A wide range of common gastrointestinal conditions are managed at SIMS through day care laparoscopic surgery, allowing patients to return home the same day or the following morning. Day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone disease, laparoscopic hernia repair, and laparoscopic appendectomy are performed routinely with minimal disruption to patients' daily lives and a rapid return to normal activity.
- Oesophageal Surgery Complex oesophageal surgery at SIMS is performed using open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted approaches, offering patients with oesophageal cancer, benign oesophageal conditions, and post-caustic injury strictures access to the full range of surgical options with the level of expertise that these technically demanding procedures demand.
- Surgery for Gastric Cancer Surgical management of gastric cancer at SIMS encompasses staging laparoscopy, radical gastrectomy, and extended lymph node dissection, with robotic surgical assistance available for eligible patients. Treatment planning is guided by the multidisciplinary gastrointestinal oncology tumour board to ensure the most appropriate, evidence-based surgical strategy for each individual.
- Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer and Chronic Pancreatitis Pancreatic surgery is among the most complex in all of gastrointestinal surgery, and it requires a team with both high volume and genuine expertise. SIMS performs pancreaticoduodenectomy (the Whipple procedure), distal pancreatectomy, and drainage procedures for chronic pancreatitis, with outcomes that reflect the team's sustained experience with pancreatic pathology.
- Surgery for Liver Cancer Hepatic surgery for primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and liver metastases is performed at SIMS with careful pre-operative planning, volumetric assessment, and anatomical resection techniques that maximise the preservation of functional liver tissue while achieving oncological clearance.
- Advanced Colorectal Surgery The colorectal surgery programme at SIMS covers the full spectrum of large bowel conditions including colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, complex fistula, rectal prolapse, and inflammatory bowel disease requiring surgery. Robotic-assisted colorectal surgery is available for suitable patients, offering the precision advantages of robotic technology for deep pelvic dissection in rectal surgery.
- Surgery for Gastrointestinal Bleeding When endoscopic management of GI bleeding is insufficient or not feasible, the surgical gastroenterology team at SIMS provides emergency and elective surgical options for control of bleeding from peptic ulcers, Meckel's diverticulum, colonic angiodysplasia, and other sources.
- Surgery for Portal Hypertension Portal hypertension resulting from cirrhosis and other liver diseases leads to life-threatening complications including variceal bleeding and refractory ascites. The SIMS surgical gastroenterology team manages these complex patients through surgical shunt procedures and devascularisation operations when endoscopic and radiological options have been exhausted.
- Surgery for Fistula, Fissure, and Piles Dedicated proctological surgical care for anorectal conditions including fistula-in-ano, fissure-in-ano, and haemorrhoids (piles), using laser surgery, stapler techniques, and conventional surgical approaches tailored to the type and complexity of the individual condition.
- Robotic Surgery The robotic surgical programme at SIMS Gastroenterology extends across oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, and complex abdominal procedures, offering patients the benefits of enhanced surgical precision, improved visualisation in deep anatomical spaces, reduced blood loss, and faster post-operative recovery compared to conventional open surgery.
- Obesity Clinic The dedicated obesity clinic at SIMS takes a genuinely multidisciplinary approach to the management of morbid obesity and metabolic disease. Bariatric surgical options including sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are offered alongside medical weight management, nutritional counselling, psychological support, and long-term follow-up — because successful weight loss surgery is about far more than the operation itself.
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Advanced Diagnostic & Treatment Facilities
Diagnostics
- Advanced endoscopy suite with high definition gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and therapeutic endoscopy platforms
- ERCP suite with fluoroscopic guidance for biliary and pancreatic duct intervention
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with FNA biopsy capability for submucosal, pancreatic, and mediastinal lesions
- Capsule endoscopy system for non-invasive small bowel visualisation
- Spyglass cholangioscopy for direct bile duct visualisation and intervention
- Abdominal ultrasound and Doppler for hepatobiliary, portal venous, and abdominal assessment
- CT scan with 3D reconstruction and CT angiography for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgical planning
- MRI abdomen and MRCP for detailed biliary, pancreatic, and hepatic assessment without radiation
- PET-CT for staging of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies
- Liver function tests, hepatitis serology, tumour markers including AFP, CEA, CA 19-9, and comprehensive gastrointestinal laboratory investigations
- Histopathology and cytopathology for endoscopic and surgical biopsy specimens
Treatment
- Full therapeutic endoscopy suite for EMR, ESD, POEM, haemostasis, polypectomy, stenting, and enteral feeding tube placement
- ERCP with stone extraction, biliary stenting, and sphincterotomy
- Robotic surgical platform for oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, and complex abdominal procedures
- Advanced laparoscopic surgery for day care and complex gastrointestinal conditions
- Liver surgery with anatomical resection and intraoperative ultrasound guidance
- Pancreatic surgery including Whipple procedure and drainage procedures for chronic pancreatitis
- Bariatric and metabolic surgery including sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass
- Emergency GI bleeding management with 24/7 endoscopy and surgical backup
- Enteral nutrition support with PEG and PEJ placement and post-procedure management
- Multidisciplinary gastrointestinal oncology tumour board for cancer treatment planning
Doctors
Medical Gastroenterology
Surgical Gastroenterology
