Hepatology

Overview

The Department of Hepatology at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is dedicated to diagnosing and treating of all types of liver conditions, from early signs like fatty liver to advanced diseases such as cirrhosis and liver failure. We are also equipped to treat patients in need of liver transplantation.

Our experienced liver specialists work together to ensure personalised and comprehensive care. It is equipped to cater to the full spectrum of liver disorders, ranging from asymptomatic abnormalities in the liver to life-threatening liver disorders.

Our department has outpatient and inpatient services, a dedicated liver ICU, endoscopy suites, and day-care facilities—all under one roof. Patients can expect seamless, coordinated care from routine consultations to critical care and transplant planning.

Location: Room numbers 210, 211, 212; Level 2, Heritage Building

Timings: 12:00 pm – 09:30 pm, Monday to Saturday

Our Services
Specialty Clinics
Conditions We Treat

Our department, supported by expert teams from Radiology, Pathology, Liver ICU, and Microbiology, uses the latest technology to offer:

Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopies, to examine and treat issues in the digestive tract using a flexible tube with a camera.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), that provide detailed images of digestive organs and help in treating bile and pancreatic duct problems.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which is a procedure to reduce pressure in the veins of patients with severe liver disease.
Balloon retrograde transvenous obliteration of varices (BRTO), which is a procedure for stopping internal bleeding from swollen veins.
Hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement (HVPG), which measures pressure in the liver to assess severity of liver disease.
Therapeutic ascitic fluid tapping, involving removal of excess fluid buildup from the abdomen to relieve discomfort.
Albumin infusion, for replacing protein lost due to liver disease and improving blood volume.
Faecal microbiota transplantation, for restoring healthy gut bacteria using processed stool from a healthy donor.
Magnetic resonance elastography, which is a scan to check liver stiffness and detect early liver scarring.
Fibroscan is a painless test that checks for liver scarring and fat.
Bioimpedance body composition analysis, for measuring body fat, water, and muscle to monitor nutritional health.
Liver biopsy (percutaneous and transjugular), where a small liver tissue sample is taken to find the cause of liver disease.
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, where a tube is placed to relieve blocked bile ducts.
Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), involving a gentle, continuous dialysis for patients with liver and kidney failure.
Plasma exchange, which removes toxins and replaces blood plasma in critical liver conditions.
Liver dialysis, where a specialised machine helps clear toxins in patients with severe liver failure.
Liver cancer treatments (all under one roof):
- Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), where chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into liver tumours.
- Transarterial radioembolization (TARE), where tiny radioactive beads are delivered to liver tumours.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), involving the use of heat to destroy small liver tumours.
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), involving highly focused radiation to shrink or kill liver tumours.
Management of alcohol related liver disease, by providing ongoing support and treatment for liver damage caused by alcohol.
International case discussions – Complex cases are reviewed weekly with global expert Prof. Dominique Valla (France) for the best outcomes.

Managing complex liver diseases often requires input from experts across medical disciplines. To ensure complete and coordinated care, we run dedicated specialty clinics alongside our regular outpatient services, including:

Alcohol-induced liver disease clinic
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) clinic
Hepatology clinic
Hepatocellular carcinoma clinic
Vascular liver disorders clinic (Budd Chiari Syndrome, extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF))
Rare liver disorders clinic (Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune hepatitis, Wilson’s disease)
Pre-transplant information and counselling clinic
Portal hypertension clinic

The hepatology department offers extensive support for patients with the following conditions:

Alcohol-induced liver disease: A range of hepatic conditions caused by alcohol consumption, such as steatosis (fatty liver), which is the accumulation of fat in the liver cells; alcoholic hepatitis, which is the inflammation of the liver; and cirrhosis, which refers to irreversible liver scarring and damage and ultimately, liver failure.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Conditions associated with the buildup of excess fat in the liver (not due to alcohol consumption).
Hepatocellular carcinoma: The most common type of primary liver cancer.
Vascular liver disorders: Various conditions affecting the hepatic blood vessels, such as Budd Chiari Syndrome, which is a rare condition associated with the obstruction of the hepatic veins (which drain blood from the liver), extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), which refers to the blockage of the portal vein outside the liver, and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), which refers to a chronic condition associated with the scarring of the portal veins without cirrhosis.
Other rare liver disorders, such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is a chronic, progressive liver disease in which the immune system attacks the liver’s bile ducts, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which refers to the blockage of the inflammation, scarring, and blockage of the bile ducts inside and outside the liver, autoimmune hepatitis, which is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system erroneously attacks the liver cells, causing inflammation and liver damage, and Wilson’s disease, which refers to the abnormal accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, and eyes.
Portal hypertension: Increased blood pressure within the portal veins, which transport blood from the digestive organs to the liver; this ultimately leads to various complications.