Plain answers, before you book.

No. You can book a direct consultation with Dr. Reddy without a referral. If you have existing reports, scans, or a referral letter, carry them or send them on WhatsApp before your visit so the consultation can begin from where things stand, not start over.

For non-urgent consultations, appointments at Apollo Speciality Hospitals Nellore are usually available within 2 to 5 working days. For emergencies or cases needing urgent review, WhatsApp is the fastest way to reach the practice. Suspected acute appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, or significant GI bleeding should go directly to Apollo Nellore Emergency.

Dr. Reddy consults fluently in English, Telugu, and Hindi. Patients are welcome to bring a family member to translate or to take notes.

Dr. Reddy's primary practice is at Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Pinakini Nagar, Nellore. All elective consultations, surgeries, and follow-ups happen there. The hospital's switchboard, his direct WhatsApp number, and the contact form on this site all reach the same scheduling team.

Yes, video consultations can be arranged for second opinions and out-of-station patients. Initial surgical decisions almost always benefit from an in-person clinical examination, so most pre-operative reviews are scheduled at Apollo Nellore. For follow-up after surgery, video review and WhatsApp updates are often enough.

Walk-ins are accepted on consulting days, but the wait can be long. Booking ahead, by phone, WhatsApp, or the contact form, gives you a confirmed time slot and lets the team have your previous reports ready when you arrive.

Apollo Speciality Hospitals Nellore is empanelled with all major insurance providers and TPAs including Star Health, HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, ICICI Lombard, Aditya Birla, Tata AIG, Care Health, Niva Bupa, CGHS, ESI, and Railway. Cashless treatment is available for most plans. Send your insurance card or policy number on WhatsApp for a quick empanelment check before booking.

Yes, for empanelled insurers. The hospital's TPA desk handles pre-authorisation. Approval typically takes 24 to 72 hours for elective surgery, and is fast-tracked for emergency admissions. Patients should bring their original policy document, ID proof, and the policy holder's signature on the cashless request form.

Consultation fees are set by Apollo Speciality Hospitals Nellore and are revised periodically. The hospital's appointment desk and front office can confirm the current fee at the time of booking. Cashless and reimbursement options apply per your individual policy terms.

Healthcare services from a registered hospital are exempt from GST under current regulations, which means consultations and inpatient surgical care are not separately taxed. Some non-healthcare items in the hospital bill (like cosmetic add-ons or non-medical supplies) may attract GST per government rules.

Yes. Apollo Nellore provides an itemised hospital bill, a discharge summary signed by the treating consultant, the operative note, the histopathology report (where applicable), and prescriptions for post-operative medications. These documents are needed for insurance reimbursement and should be kept safely.

Whenever clinically appropriate, Dr. Reddy operates laparoscopically, small incisions, faster recovery, fewer complications. For some advanced ventral hernias, eTEP (extended totally extraperitoneal) repair is offered as a minimally invasive alternative to open mesh repair. Open surgery is recommended only when it is the safer answer, for example, in some cancer cases where complete clearance is more reliably achieved through an open approach. The decision is shared and explained before consent.

Most GI surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia. The Apollo Nellore anaesthesia team conducts a pre-anaesthetic check-up before surgery to plan medications, manage any cardiac or respiratory risk, and discuss post-operative pain control. For some smaller procedures (like select hernia repairs or endoscopic procedures), regional or sedation-only anaesthesia may be appropriate.

Surgery duration depends on the procedure. Laparoscopic gallbladder removal typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Hernia repairs run 60 to 120 minutes. Bariatric surgeries take around 90 to 150 minutes. Major HPB and oncology operations (Whipple, hepatectomy, gastrectomy) can run four to seven hours. Total operating-room time, including preparation and recovery, is longer than the surgery itself.

Every surgery carries some risk. The general risks of GI surgery include bleeding, infection, anaesthesia-related events, and (for bowel procedures) anastomotic leak. Specific risks depend on the procedure, your overall health, and existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Dr. Reddy discusses procedure-specific risks individually before consent, the goal is informed agreement, not paperwork.

Then Dr. Reddy will say so. A good surgical gastroenterologist's job is to recommend the right intervention, which is sometimes no surgery at all. Conditions like uncomplicated GERD, mild gallstone disease without symptoms, and many functional GI disorders are best managed medically. You will be referred to a medical gastroenterologist or appropriate specialist where indicated.

Yes. Apollo Speciality Hospitals Nellore has a 24/7 surgical ICU, an in-house blood bank, on-site CT and MRI imaging, and full multidisciplinary support including critical care, cardiology, pulmonology, and oncology. This infrastructure is essential for safely performing complex GI surgeries and managing post-operative complications if they arise.

Yes. Second opinions are common and welcomed. Share your CT, MRI, PET, or ultrasound reports on WhatsApp, along with any biopsy results, blood reports, and the previous treating doctor's discharge summary or prescription. Dr. Reddy will give an initial assessment of whether surgery is needed, what the alternatives are, and whether further evaluation is warranted before you commit to a hospital visit.

For abdominal conditions, the most useful inputs are: contrast-enhanced CT or MRI of the abdomen, recent ultrasound (within three months), endoscopy or colonoscopy reports with biopsy results, baseline blood work (CBC, LFT, RFT, coagulation), and any prior surgical or hospital discharge summaries. Where available, send actual DICOM images on WhatsApp or via a cloud link, not just the printed report.

Often, no. Most consultations begin by reviewing your existing imaging and lab work, not by ordering more. New tests are recommended only when the available scans are too old for the current clinical situation, when image quality is inadequate, or when a specific staging or surveillance question needs a fresh answer.

Yes. Many patients consult Dr. Reddy for a clear second opinion and then proceed with treatment closer to home, especially for non-surgical conditions or when continuing care under an existing oncologist or gastroenterologist. The aim of the consultation is the right plan for you, not necessarily surgery at Apollo Nellore.

A brief preliminary review on WhatsApp, to assess whether your case needs urgent attention, what investigations might help, and whether a video or in-person consultation is warranted, is offered without a separate fee. A formal video consultation or in-person consultation is billed at the standard hospital rate.