Columbia Asia

The Department of Bariatric surgery at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad performs different kinds of weight loss surgeries tailored to meet individual patient needs. The team, which includes bariatric surgeons, endocrinologist, cardiologist, bariatric nutritionist, psychologist, physiotherapist and trained anesthetist, provide comprehensive care from evaluation to post surgery support and follow up. The hospital is equipped with advanced technology and facilities that are specially made for the comfort and safety of obese patients, who seek the treatment. The focus of the hospital is to take care of all patients in a caring, comfortable and safe environment, while maintaining the much needed privacy.

Keyhole or laparoscopic bariatric surgeries are performed regularly with successful outcomes. The surgeons have expertise in performing various bariatric surgical procedures such as gastric banding, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass depending on the individual patient needs.

The patient’s who enrol for the bariatric surgery program, undergo a thorough evaluation of the medical condition and a trial of medical management before surgery is advised.

Salient features of the program at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, include a holistic approach with the help of psychological support, diet and behavioural therapy, pharmacotherapy and exercise.

The Department of Anesthesiology at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad,  provides anesthesia  services to all  surgical specialties  like   cardiac, renal transplants, paediatric surgery including neonates,  vascular and endovascular, endourology and orthopedics including trauma and joint replacements and gynecology. Pre-anesthesia check-up prior to any surgery is mandatory in order to decide on which modality of anesthesia is suitable for each patient.  The department includes skilled and experienced anesthesiologists who are also qualified in pain medicine including labor analgesia .

Pain management is a sub specialty of anesthesiology used by many medical specialties as an approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life for those living with chronic pain. At Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, the pain management team includes the pain consultant /anesthesiologist, primary consultant of the patient, psychiatrists, neurologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Pain sometimes resolves promptly once the underlying trauma or pathology has healed. In some cases the pain is treated with drugs such as analgesics and (occasionally) anxiolytics. Effective management of long term pain, however, frequently requires the coordinated efforts of the management team.

Interventional Cardiology is that branch of cardiology that specifically deals with diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases which includes congenital (present at birth) as well as acquired- like coronary heart disease, valvular heart diseases, cardiomyopathies, pericardial diseases etc through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting etc.

A number of procedures can be performed by catheterisation of heart and vessels: the coronary artery, peripheral artery or vein, the renal artery, although the commonest is the coronary artery. It involves insertion of a sheath into the radial or femoral artery and cannulating the heart under the x-ray vision (fluoroscopy). The radial artery has the advantage of easy control of bleeding in anti-coagulated patients, increased comfort levels as early mobilisation is possible.

Interventional cardiology offers an advantage of avoiding scars and pain and long post-operative   recovery period.

Primary Angioplasty, the most rewarding interventional cardiology technique is now the gold standard of treating acute myocardial infarction (acute heart attack). It involves extraction of clots from the blocked coronary arteries with or without deployment of stents. It preserves the pumping function of the heart, so that the patient will have less chances of heart failure in future.

At Columbia Asia Hospitals, we offer interventional cardiology treatment options. Our cardiologists are trained in premier institutions in India and abroad and periodically update their skills to practice contemporary medicine. Evidence-based medicine and following international treatment protocols is the hallmark of the department.

Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, provides critical care services round the clock with a team of highly qualified, skilled and experienced intensivists and nurses. The plan of care for the patient is prepared in consensus with the admitting specialist, the patient and the family. Periodic multi-disciplinary briefings on patient’s condition are provided to his/her family.

The Critical Care Team practices evidence based medicine and follows international protocols and quality indicators like ‘FASTHUG’ to enable good outcomes and decreased hospital stay. The ICU outcomes are monitored with tools like ‘APACHE’ scoring and SMR (Standardised Mortality Ratios) that help the department benchmark outcomes against internationally reputed ICUs. Infection control protocols to prevent healthcare associated infections (HCAI) like ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter related blood stream infection (CRBSI) and catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) are followed rigorously.

The ICU at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, provides retrieval services to patients from other hospitals that do not have similar facilities. It involves transporting critically ill patients from other healthcare facilities in a well-equipped ambulance with a team including an intensivist and an ICU nurse depending on the seriousness of the patient.

Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad has a well- established Department of Dermatology, Tricology and Cosmetology with highly qualified and experienced consultants. The focus is on evidence based care following international protocols for quality and safety of patients. Dermatologists at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, have the expertise to treat a wide spectrum of disease conditions ranging from acne to skin cancers.

The department also provides care for patients with transmitted diseases. Most of the care is provided on an outpatient basis, however in case of dermatological emergencies like Stevens Johnson Syndrome the department provides care in the inpatient or ICU setting. 

The department also provides a wide range of cosmetic services for patients of all age groups and uses LASER for removal of tattoos, scars, excessive hair and warts. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion for scars, striae and skin rejuvenation are also offered.

The Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, provides outpatient, inpatient and ocular emergency services by a team of consultants who are highly qualified, skilled and treat a wide range of eye disorders. Most surgical procedures of the eye are performed as day care surgeries. Evaluation of the eye is done as part of routine health check-up, as well as diabetic health check programmes.

The consultants perform complex surgeries including oculoplasty, squint correction surgery and corrective surgery following orbital trauma. The department mainly specialises in anterior chamber surgery. Phacoemulsification and implantable lenses are used for cataract surgeries. Pediatric services include evaluation of retinopathy of prematurity, visual acuity and corrective surgeries.

The department at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, offers evaluation and management of glaucoma in all age groups. Ophthalmologists are part of the team that provides neuro-ophthalmology care along with neurologists and neurosurgeons. This team is supported by the neurophysiology lab to evaluate visual function using modalities like visual evoked potentials.

The Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Asia Hospital – Ahmedabad, is committed to providing comprehensive, co-ordinated and compassionate psychiatric care to children, adolescents and adults. The focus is on providing psychiatric, psychological and behavioural health services for all age groups in a friendly and caring atmosphere. The care is customised to the patient’s needs using various modalities of treatment, which are usually on an outpatient basis.

The care for children includes evaluation and psycho-educational testing for learning disabilities which includes IQ tests, personality assessment, ADHD assessment and self-inventory scales. Children are evaluated for autism spectrum diseases and treated appropriately with a multipronged approach that includes counselling, behavioural therapy and medication.

Making smart food and nutrition choices is a necessary part of our daily life.

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Columbia Asia Hospital - Ahmedabad

• Promotes individualized medical nutrition therapy in a multidisciplinary approach as a means to optimize patient care.
• Prevents or minimizes the presence of malnutrition that often accompanies acute or chronic diseases.
• Provides effective nutrition education to patients and family members in a variety of patient care settings.
• Functions as an integral component in support of education and research in collaboration with the doctors.
• Provides ongoing education in all aspects of nutrition