Dr Vinay Sehgal is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Interventional Endoscopist at University College London Hospital. Dr Sehgal completed his specialist training in Gastroenterology in the prestigious North East London rotation, during which time he completed his PhD at University College London where he developed a novel tumour model of oesophageal cancer used in crucial mechanistic, imaging and pre-clinical studies. Dr Sehgal has been awarded numerous awards for his cutting edge and landmark research in this field.
Dr Sehgal has a specialist interest in the early detection and treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Dr Sehgal offers a wide range of minimally invasive endoscopic treatments for GORD including the STRETTA procedure. Dr Sehgal is also only one of two specialists in the UK who offer endoscopic hiatus hernia repair using the trans-oral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure as minimally invasive alterative to surgery with excellent outcomes to date.
Dr Sehgal also has a super-specialist interest in pre-cancerous conditions of the digestive tract including Barrett's Oesophagus and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Dr Sehgal has helped pioneer and is senior co-author of numerous landmark studies for treatments of early oesophageal cancer including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Dr Sehgal also looks after and treats patients with more advanced oesophageal and gastric cancer in whom he offers laser therapy and stent placement to improve symptoms and quality of life.
He also has a specialist interest in advanced endoscopic therapy for benign disorders of the foregut including achalasia and eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE).
In addition to his super-specialist and world-leading expertise in foregut diseases, Dr Sehgal also performs colonoscopy during which he commonly removes pre-cancerous polyps and helps diagnose and treat inflammatory conditions of the bowel.
Dr Sehgal's full set of expertise is summarised below:
Areas of specialist expertise:
· Heartburn and acid reflux:
Causes, consequences and treatments (such as lifestyle changes, proton pump inhibitors, and hiatus hernia- directed therapies).
Endoscopic diagnosis including BRAVO capsule insertion and endoscopic therapies for reflux including STRETTA.
· Barrett’s Oesophagus endoscopic therapy:
Endoscopic removal (EMR) and ablation (RFA, APC, Cryotherapy) for early neoplasia and cancer which would otherwise require major surgery.
· Major Upper Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
Investigation and endoscopic treatment of major motility disorders such as achalasia and OGJ-outflow obstruction with treatments such as botox or dilatation.
· Eosinophilic oesophagitis
Endoscopic diagnosis including long-term dietary, medical and endoscopic therapies for this important condition.
· Oesophago-gastric cancer:
Endoscopic therapy including stenting, laser and cryotherapy.
· Colonoscopy
Endoscopic treatment of pre-malignant colorectal lesions
Diagnosis of chronic lower gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders including
Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Endoscopic treatment of colonic strictures that may otherwise require surgery.
· Trans-nasal endoscopy
Transnasal endoscopy and minimally invasive imaging and monitoring in the upper GI tract.
· Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Investigation and novel lifestyle modifications in combination with medical therapies.
· Functional gastrointestinal disorders
Irritable bowel syndrome, cyclical vomiting syndrome, disorders of the gut-brain axis.
Research, publications and awards
Dr Sehgal recently led a team that introduced a non-invasive oesophageal tissue sampling device which was used to monitor patients with pre-malignant conditions of the oesophagus instead of endoscopy which was otherwise postponed due the COVID-19 pandemic. UCLH was the first centre in the world to adopt this technology with other centres following its lead and ultimately helping to improve the care we offer to such patients.
Dr Sehgal has a keen interest in endoscopy training and is a member of faculty at the British Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Training Committee for The Royal College of Physicians. He is also actively involved in numerous live endoscopy and hands-training courses at UCLH.
Dr Sehgal has a keen interest in research and supervises a research team who collect important information into endoscopic techniques and procedures he carries out to ultimately improve and streamline the care that we give to our patients. His research is focused on existing and novel endoscopic imaging technologies to help detect and treatment early cancer of the gastrointestinal tract including the use of artificial intelligence. His other interests include the development of minimally invasive endoscopic techniques to treat early cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract for which he is actively involved in several national and international clinical studies in this field.
He is regularly invited to present at international meetings and has published numerous original manuscripts and reviews in this field.
