

Wu Hai Wu

About me
Wu Haiwu, chief physician of gastroenterology, professor, with 22 years of experience. After graduating from university, he has been engaged in clinical work at the People's Hospital of Ganzhou. He has furthered his studies in gastroenterology at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai and Zhongshan Hospital in Xiamen in 2008 and 2012, respectively, and has abundant theoretical foundation and professional knowledge.
Proficient in diseases
With unique experience in the anti-viral treatment of digestive system diseases such as esophageal, gastric, intestinal, liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic diseases, especially elderly digestive diseases and viral hepatitis and cirrhosis, proficient in dealing with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, severe acute pancreatitis, refractory ascites in cirrhosis, and a series of complicated critical conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, etc., skilled in using gastroscopy and colonoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, actively participated in the medical emergency response to major public health incidents and government-directed healthcare conferences.

Voices

Does chronic atrophic gastritis require lifelong medication?
If the patient has lifelong atrophic gastritis, they may need to follow a doctor's advice and take medications that increase mucosal nutrition for life, such as sucralfate, live gastric ketone, prostaglandin E1, etc. The main causes of atrophic gastritis are Helicobacter pylori infection, as well as other factors such as autoimmune mechanisms, genetic factors, and decreased gastric mucosal barrier function. The main symptoms of atrophic gastritis include obscure pain in the upper abdomen, distension, burning pain, along with accompanying symptoms like weight loss and anemia. Treatment for atrophic gastritis involves eradicating Helicobacter pylori and using medications that protect the gastric mucosa.

Is the surface of the liver smooth in the early stages of cirrhosis?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, it is not necessarily the case that the liver surface is very smooth; in patients with early cirrhosis, the liver surface can be uneven. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis also need serious attention. They should undergo regular follow-up examinations, and it is important to identify the cause of the early cirrhosis. Based on different causes, appropriate treatment measures should be taken. For example, if the early cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus, antiviral treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. If it is due to alcohol, leading to early alcoholic cirrhosis, then it is crucial to quit drinking actively, and liver-protective treatments are also needed.

Will the platelet count be low in the early stages of cirrhosis?
The early stage of cirrhosis does not cause a decrease in platelets. Patients in the early stages of cirrhosis often have no obvious symptoms and may only exhibit fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, etc. However, once a patient with cirrhosis develops splenic hyperfunction, it can easily lead to a decrease in platelets, where the platelet count may drop to 100,000 per microliter. In such cases, it might be necessary to perform procedures like splenic embolization or splenectomy for antimicrobial treatment, and it is also important to prevent other complications of cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric varices, etc.

Can people with atrophic gastritis drink honey water?
Patients with atrophic gastritis can drink honey water. Patients with atrophic gastritis need to be careful with their diet by avoiding spicy, irritating foods, as well as overly sour, overly spicy, overly salty foods, and coarse foods. For patients with atrophic gastritis, it is important to eat regularly and in moderate amounts, opting for smaller, more frequent meals, and avoiding binge eating. Since honey water does not fall into the above categories of foods and is not considered spicy, patients with atrophic gastritis can drink honey water. However, it is also important to avoid drinking too much at once; drinking a moderate amount is fine.

What is fatty liver?
Fatty liver is a pathological condition caused by excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells due to various reasons, which impairs the liver's normal functions. This is a relatively common liver pathology. Patients may experience symptoms like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and discomfort in the upper right abdomen, primarily treated in the departments of gastroenterology and hepatology. The population at higher risk includes patients with diabetes, alcohol abuse, obesity, and those who have undergone excessive weight loss. Fatty liver can also occur during pregnancy. Patients may experience impaired liver function, and in severe cases, they may develop fatty liver hepatitis or fatty liver cirrhosis.

Is it serious if a gastric polyp becomes ulcerated?
A deteriorated gastric polyp is quite serious. Once a gastric polyp has deteriorated, active treatment is necessary because if not promptly treated, it could lead to complications such as bleeding, infection, or perforation, which could endanger the patient's life. Once a gastric polyp is definitively diagnosed, proactive intervention such as polyp removal is needed. Endoscopic polypectomy can be performed. If the polyp is large and has a wide base, making it difficult to remove via endoscopy, then surgical intervention may be required.

Does early-stage cirrhosis cause leg swelling?
Generally, in the early stages of cirrhosis, there is no swelling in the legs. However, if a patient with cirrhosis reaches the advanced stage and develops hypoalbuminemia, swelling in the feet can easily occur. At the same time, there is also the possibility of complications such as ascites, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and esophagogastric varices, among others. If swelling of the legs occurs in patients with cirrhosis, it indicates that the patient has entered the decompensated stage. At this point, it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible to complete the relevant examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis, so that targeted treatment can be administered based on the cause as soon as possible.

What fruits should be avoided with atrophic gastritis?
The main dietary restrictions for atrophic gastritis include quitting smoking and drinking. It is important to eat less salty and overly hot foods, and to avoid spicy and irritating foods. In addition, patients should avoid coarse foods and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins. They should eat regularly, have small frequent meals, chew slowly, and maintain a pleasant mood. Patients with atrophic gastritis should maintain a regular diet and have periodic gastroscopy check-ups, as there is a potential for malignancy in atrophic gastritis patients.

How long does it take to see the effects of Chinese medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis?
As for how long it takes to see the effects of traditional Chinese medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis, it depends on the specific cause of the disease. Depending on different causes, the time to see effects may vary. For instance, if it is early-stage alcoholic cirrhosis or drug-induced early-stage cirrhosis, after abstaining from alcohol and stopping the use of some liver-damaging medications, then supplementing with traditional Chinese medicine treatment, effects can be seen quite quickly. If it is caused by viral hepatitis and has not undergone standard antiviral treatment, relying solely on oral intake of traditional Chinese medicine, it might take a relatively long time to see some effects. Furthermore, the effects will be better after undergoing antiviral treatment.

Do you need a liver transplant in the early stages of cirrhosis?
In the early stages of cirrhosis, liver transplant is not necessary. Early-stage cirrhosis requires timely and comprehensive auxiliary examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis. This includes determining whether it is due to viral hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, or drug-induced hepatitis, among others. Once a patient exhibits early signs of cirrhosis, it is crucial to treat the specific cause and symptoms actively, and undertake proactive liver protection treatments. It is also essential to prevent complications associated with cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, primary liver cancer, hepatorenal syndrome, liver disease, and ascites.