HPB Surgery in Dubai & Sharjah
What a Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgeon Treats
A hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon, usually shortened to HPB surgeon, specialises in operations on the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas. These organs sit close together in the upper abdomen, share a delicate network of ducts and blood vessels, and are among the most technically demanding areas of digestive surgery. That is why conditions here are best managed by a surgeon who operates on them week in, week out.
Dr Arindam Ghosh is a consultant gastrointestinal and laparoscopic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and over 12,000 GI procedures, practising across Dubai and Sharjah. His hepatobiliary work covers everything from routine gallstone surgery to complex bile duct repair and major liver and pancreatic resections.
25+
Years in GI surgery
12,000+
Procedures performed
300+
Whipple operations
3
Hospitals in Dubai & Sharjah
Liver, Gallbladder, Bile Duct and Pancreas Conditions Treated
Gallstones and gallbladder disease
Biliary colic, cholecystitis, gallbladder polyps and recurrent gallstone attacks that interfere with daily life.
Bile duct stones and blockages
Stones that migrate into the common bile duct, strictures and injuries that obstruct the flow of bile.
Obstructive jaundice
Yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by blocked bile flow, which needs prompt investigation and drainage.
Liver tumours and cysts
Benign lesions, primary liver cancer and secondary tumours that have spread from elsewhere in the digestive tract.
Pancreatitis and pancreatic tumours
Gallstone pancreatitis, chronic inflammation, cysts and tumours of the pancreas requiring surgical care.
Redo and complex biliary surgery
Revision procedures after previous operations, including repair and reconstruction of injured bile ducts.
When to seek help
Symptoms That Should Not Wait
Hepatobiliary problems often announce themselves clearly. If any of the following sounds familiar, arrange a specialist review rather than waiting for the next attack:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after fatty meals, sometimes radiating to the back or right shoulder
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools
- Persistent itching without a skin cause
- Fever with abdominal pain, which can signal infection of the gallbladder or bile ducts
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- A liver, gallbladder or pancreas finding on an ultrasound or CT scan done for another reason
Repeated gallstone attacks are the most common reason patients look for a gallstones surgeon in Dubai & Sharjah. If stones have already been confirmed on a scan, you can read more about gallbladder stone surgery in Dubai and what the procedure involves.
How Hepatobiliary Conditions Are Diagnosed
1
Consultation and examination
A detailed history of your symptoms, previous scans and medical background, followed by a physical examination.
2
Blood tests
Liver function tests, markers of infection or inflammation and, where a tumour is suspected, specific tumour markers.
3
Imaging
Ultrasound is usually first. CT and MRCP, a specialised MRI of the bile ducts, map the anatomy in detail before any decision.
4
Endoscopy where needed
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and ERCP allow close inspection of the bile ducts and pancreas, tissue sampling and stone removal.
Honest advice
When Surgery Is Recommended, and When It Is Not
Not every hepatobiliary finding needs an operation. Silent gallstones discovered by chance are often simply monitored. Some forms of pancreatitis settle with medical treatment, fluids and dietary changes. Small benign liver lesions frequently need nothing more than periodic scans.
Surgery becomes the right answer when the condition is causing repeated symptoms, when complications such as infection, jaundice or pancreatitis have already occurred, or when a tumour needs to be removed. Medication can dissolve certain cholesterol gallstones, but it takes months to years and the stones commonly return, which is why surgical removal of the gallbladder remains the standard treatment for symptomatic stones.
At your consultation, Dr Ghosh explains both the surgical and non-surgical options for your specific case, so the decision is made with you, not for you.
HPB Procedures Performed by Dr Ghosh
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Keyhole removal of the gallbladder, the most common HPB operation, performed through three or four small incisions.
Bile duct exploration and repair
Removal of stones from the common bile duct and reconstruction of narrowed or injured ducts to restore bile flow.
Liver resection
Removal of a portion of the liver for tumours or cysts, planned around the organ's remarkable capacity to regenerate.
Whipple procedure
Major surgery for tumours of the pancreatic head and lower bile duct. Dr Ghosh has performed over 300 Whipple operations as part of his wider pancreatic surgery practice.
Biliary drainage procedures
Endoscopic and surgical drainage for obstructive jaundice, relieving symptoms and preparing patients for definitive treatment.
Robotic HPB surgery
Robot-assisted procedures for selected cases, offering enhanced precision in confined spaces around the bile ducts and pancreas.
Surgical approach
Keyhole, Robotic and Open: Choosing the Right Approach
As a certified robotic surgeon and one of the early adopters of advanced laparoscopy in the UAE, Dr Ghosh performs the majority of hepatobiliary operations through minimally invasive techniques. The typical benefits are real and well documented:
- Smaller incisions and less post-operative pain
- Shorter hospital stay, often same-day or next-day discharge for gallbladder removal
- Faster return to work, driving and normal activity
- Lower wound infection rates and minimal scarring
Open surgery still has a place. Severe inflammation, dense scarring from previous operations and certain large tumours are safer through a traditional incision, and occasionally a keyhole procedure is converted to open during the operation for safety. Every approach is chosen on one criterion: what is safest and most effective for you.
Recovery, Hospital Stay and Aftercare
-
Day of surgery
Operation and monitoring
Most keyhole gallbladder operations take under an hour. You wake in recovery, and many patients are walking the same evening.
-
Day 1 to 2
Going home after keyhole surgery
Laparoscopic gallbladder patients typically go home the same day or the next morning, with simple pain relief and wound care advice.
-
Week 1 to 2
Early recovery
Light activity is encouraged. Most desk-based patients return to work within one to two weeks after minimally invasive procedures.
-
Week 1 and beyond for major surgery
Recovery after liver or pancreatic resection
Major HPB operations such as the Whipple usually mean a hospital stay of about a week to ten days, with a gradual return of energy over the following two to three months.
-
Follow-up
Clinic reviews and ongoing care
Wound checks, histology results and dietary guidance at scheduled reviews, with direct clinic contact in between if anything concerns you.
Complex cases
Liver Tumours and Cancer: Your Treatment Pathway
If a scan has shown a mass in your liver, pancreas or bile ducts, the first priority is an accurate diagnosis and stage. Cross-sectional imaging, blood markers and, where needed, a biopsy establish exactly what the lesion is and whether it can be removed.
Complex and cancer cases are never decided by one doctor alone. Dr Ghosh works within a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, radiologists, hepatologists and pathologists, so surgery, chemotherapy or a combination is chosen on consensus and current evidence. His HPB practice sits within a broader GI cancer surgery service covering tumours throughout the digestive tract.
Where the liver itself is failing rather than harbouring a removable tumour, patients are guided through liver transplant assessment and referred appropriately, so no one is left without a clear next step.
Your surgeon
Why Patients Choose Dr Arindam Ghosh
- Consultant GI, colorectal and laparoscopic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and over 12,000 procedures
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and among the first licensed Consultant GI Surgeons in the UAE
- Certified robotic surgeon and a regional pioneer in robotic digestive surgery
- Over 300 Whipple procedures, reflecting deep experience in the most complex HPB operations
- Consults at Emirates Hospital Jumeirah, Emirates Speciality Hospital DHCC and NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah
- One accountable specialist from diagnosis through surgery to follow-up, rather than a rotating team
- International patients welcomed, with medical visa and travel support for those coming from the GCC, South Asia and Europe
Consultations
Seen in Dubai and Sharjah, usually within days: bring your scans and reports for a clear surgical opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all gallstones need surgery?
No. Gallstones that cause no symptoms are usually just monitored. Surgery is recommended once stones cause pain, inflammation, jaundice or pancreatitis, because these problems tend to recur and can become emergencies. Your scan findings and symptom history decide the plan, not the mere presence of stones.
How long is recovery after laparoscopic gallbladder removal?
Most patients go home the same day or the following morning and return to desk work within one to two weeks. Heavy lifting is avoided for a few weeks. The gallbladder is not essential for digestion, and the majority of patients eat normally soon after surgery.
What is the difference between an HPB surgeon and a general surgeon?
An HPB surgeon is a fully trained surgeon with additional focused expertise in the liver, pancreas and biliary system. For straightforward gallbladder removal this depth matters when anatomy is unusual or inflamed; for bile duct injuries, liver resections and pancreatic tumours it is essential.
Which tests will I need before hepatobiliary surgery?
Typically blood tests including liver function, an ultrasound, and often CT or MRCP to map the bile ducts. If a tumour is suspected, endoscopic ultrasound with biopsy may be added. Pre-anaesthetic checks are arranged at the hospital before your operation date.
Do you treat liver tumours and cancers?
Yes. Dr Ghosh surgically manages benign liver lesions, primary liver tumours and secondary tumours, alongside cancers of the gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas. Every cancer case is reviewed with a multidisciplinary team so surgery is sequenced correctly with any chemotherapy or other treatment.
Which hospitals and insurers are covered?
Dr Ghosh consults at Emirates Hospital Jumeirah, Emirates Speciality Hospital DHCC and NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah. Major UAE insurers including DAMAN, BUPA Arabia, AXA Gulf and Oman Insurance are accepted, and the clinic team can confirm your specific policy coverage before treatment.
How do I book a consultation?
Call or WhatsApp +971 58 181 9372 with a brief description of your problem, and bring any existing scans, blood results and referral letters to your appointment. International patients can contact the same number for medical visa and travel assistance before flying in.
Get a Clear Opinion on Your Liver, Gallbladder or Bile Duct Problem
A trusted HPB surgeon in Dubai and Sharjah, from routine gallstones to complex liver and pancreatic surgery.
We bring the years, global experience, and stamina to guide our clients through new and often disruptive realities.
Surgeries
- Esophagus
- Colorectal
- Gastric & Reflux
- Onco (Cancer)
- Bariatric
- Hepatobiliary
- Pancreas
- Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
- Endoscopy & Colonoscopy
- Liver Transplant
- Proctology
(Fissure, Fistula & Hemorrhoids)