National conference on gastro emergencies starts at PGI-Chandigarh

A national-level single-theme conference on gastrointestinal emergencies started at the PGI-Chandigarh today.

Continuing till September 15, the conference is being organised by the PGI Department of Gastroenterology, which is headed by Prof Usha Dutta. A top gastroenterologist of the region, she is also the chairperson of the conference.

The event, to be attended by faculty and delegates from across the country, is focusing on the management of gastrointestinal and liver-related emergencies.

Dr Usha said the conference was now in its 8th edition, which affirmed the commitment of the department to reducing the knowledge gap between first-contact doctors who manage patients in emergency and specialists.

She said gastrointestinal emergencies were a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide, and timely management was critical. "These emergencies include conditions such as gastrointestinal bleeding, acute pancreatitis, complications from liver failure and intestinal obstructions," she said. There will be dedicated sessions addressing the management of these emergencies in intensive care units.

A special focus will be on gastrointestinal bleeding, both from the upper and lower tracts. This includes bleeding due to ulcers, esophageal tears and complications from chronic liver disease. Dr Naresh Bhat will lead a session on managing gastrointestinal bleeding, with contributions from Dr Anupam Singh, Dr Vaneet Jearth, and Dr Sridhar Sundaram. Prof Saroj Sinha will highlight the role of acid suppression in such cases.

Acute pancreatitis, another critical emergency, will also be discussed in detail. Prof Pramod Garg will lead the session, exploring current strategies and literature on improving outcomes in this condition. Many cases of acute pancreatitis are linked to alcohol consumption and gallstones, making early intervention essential.

Other sessions will focus on emergencies related to liver diseases such as acute liver failure and complications like kidney and brain dysfunction. Ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition that can escalate into a severe emergency, will also be discussed. Dr Vishal Sharma will lead a panel discussion on the management of patients who do not respond to steroid therapy, with contributions from Dr Ajit Sood, Dr Anuraag Jena and Dr Yashwant.

The conference will be chaired by Prof Usha Dutta, with Dr Vishal Sharma and Dr Harshal Mandavdhare serving as organising secretaries.

Senior gastroenterologists from across the country who are experts in the management of gastroenterological emergencies, including Prof Shobana Bhatia, Prof Rakesh Kochhar, Prof Anoop Saraya, Prof Pramod Garg, Dr Ajay Kumar, Prof Amarender S Puri, Prof Ajit Sood, Prof Govind Makharia, Dr Naresh Bhat, Prof Praveer Rai, Dr Vinay Dhir and Dr Mohan Ramchandani, would be present as faculty for this conference. Delegates include gastroenterologists, trainee gastroenterologists and physicians from across the country.

A hands-on session is being conducted on September 13 at Zakir Hall, in which training on various models and practical clinical situations would be imparted to residents. This session is being led by Dr Jayanta Samanta and Dr Jimil Shah. There will also be special session on POCUS (point of care ultrasound), which is going to help trainees in managing gastrointestinal emergency.