DIGESTIVE CANCER CARE

OVERVIEW

Cancer – an uncaring disease that doesn’t discriminate when choosing a victim is one of the leading cause of death worldwide. We at GEM Hospitals Chennai has a team of experienced doctors treating malignancies arising from esophagus to anus.

Our department is headed by most renowned and dynamic surgeon – Dr.C.Palanivelu, who has performed more than 5000 cancer surgeries successfully. We are a team of surgical , medical , radiation oncologists, along with cancer specific nutritionist, physiotherapist.

Clinical details of each patient will be reviewed by a team of oncologists in a multi disciplinary tumor board meeting , where the best treatment options will be discussed and advised to the patient.

Post cancer therapy each patient will be reviewed on regular basis, with an emphasis on detecting the recurrences and dealing with post cancer therapy related symptoms.

We conduct a regular meets with cancer survival patients and screening programs whch helps in creating cancer awareness in the society.

DISEASES TREATED

Esophagus

Cancer esophagus
Esophagus GIST
Rare tumors like Sarcomas, Neuro-endocrine

Gastro –esophageal junction malignancies

Stomach

Carcinoma Stomach
GIST of Stomach
Malignant and pre malignant polys

Hepato- Biliary

Carcinoma Gall Bladder
Premalignant polyps
Liver tumors
Peri ampullary cancers
Biliary tract cancers – cholangiocarcinoma
Carcinoma head of pancreas
Distal pancreatic tumors
Neuro endocrine tumors of pancreas
Cystic neoplasm of pancreas

Small Bowel

Small bowel adenocarcinoma
Carcinoid tumors
Neuro endocrine tumors

Appendix

Adenocarcinoma of appendix
Mucinous neoplasms of appendix
Carcinoid tumors

Colo Rectal

Carcinoma Colon- Ascending, Transverse, Descending, Sigmoid
Carcinoma Rectum
GIST – Colon & Rectum

Peritoneum

Primary peritoneal cancer
Pseudomyxoma peritonei
Peritoneal mesothelioma

DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES

Upper G.I Endoscopy (OGD)
Colonoscopy
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Barium/Gastrograffin Swallow & Follow-through Studies
Ultrasound of Abdomen (USG)
Multidetector Computerized CT Scan with Cancer Specific Protocols
Laparascopic Ultrasound
Intraopeartive ultrasound

SURGERIES PERFORMED

Laparoscopic & Robotic Esophagectomy

Laparoscopic & Robotic gastrectomy – Distal, total , segmental

Laparoscopic & Robotic Whipples

Laparoscopic & Robotic Distal pancreatectomy

Laparoscopic & Robotic liver resections – hepatectomy

Laparoscopic & Robotic Radical cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic & Robotic small bowel resections

Laparoscopic & Robotic cyto reductive surgery

HIPEC

Laparoscopic & Robotic colectomy

Right/ extended Right Hemicolectomy
Left/extended Left Hemicolectomy
Transverse colectomy
Segmental colectomy
Subtotal/ Total colectomy
Sigmoid colectomy

Laparoscopic & Robotic – Rectal surgery

Anterior Resection (AR)
Low Anterior Resection (LAR)
Ultra Low Anterior Resection (ULAR)
Abdomino-perineal resection (APR)
TAMIS- Trans Anal minimally invasive surgery

Laparoscopic & Robotic Total Proctocolectomy with ileal-anal anastomosis

Robotic/Laparoscopic Resection of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) & Neuroendocrine Tumours(NET)

GEM Expertise

Centre with the largest experience of Laparoscopic Whipple’s procedure for pancreatic cancer , considering that the first totally Laparoscopic Whipple’s procedure in the world was performed by the chairman Prof.C.Palanivelu in 1998.
Only centre to offer both Laparoscopic & Robotic surgery for complex and locally advanced cancer surgeries.
Advanced 3D , 4K & Robotic surgical platforms available for performing complicated and prolonged cancer surgeries.
Sophisticated cutting edge technology available like ICG (Indocyanine green ) guided Laparoscopic Liver and Bile duct resections.
Robust Therapeutic Endoscopic team available for performing adjunct procedures like ERCP, EUS & Spyglass cholangioscopy.
Dedicated 24 hour ,state of the art ICU with round the clock intensivists.
Comprehensive team of Interventional Radiologists to perform complex percutaneous therapeutic interventions for liver and pancreatic diseases.

Dr. PALANIVELU’S TECHNIQUE of Right Hemicolectomy - IRETA

Our GEM hospitals has introduced a newer way of Initila reteoileal endocopic tunneling approach – helps in easy identification of critical structures like duodenum and operating complex tumors of rt colon.

Dr. PALANIVELU’S TECHNIQUE of Esophagectomy

Open esophagectomy is associated with considerable morbidity in terms of respiratory complications and prolonged hospital stay.

Dr. C. Palanivelu innovated a ‘prone position technique’ of Thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy, which reduced overall morbidity and encouraged early discharge from hospital.

This is the most popular approach currently and is being followed as a standard of care globally.