Mr Keshav Swarnkar

Having started my medical career in the Armed Forces Medical College, I have been surgically trained in leading hospitals in both England and Wales. My experience, the majority of which I have attained in the Pan-Wales surgical rotation, has given me extensive exposure to both rural and urban practice. 

I was awarded a fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) of both Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1996 and continued Advanced Training in General and Colorectal Surgery. I went on to be appointed as one of the youngest GMC-recognised specialist substantive Consultants (CCT) in my field in 2003. 

Aside from my NHS practice, I exclusively provide private healthcare through St Joseph’s Hospital and have done since 2004. I offer services (further details below) pertaining to General and Bowel-related medical investigations (e.g.: endoscopy) and long-standing conditions and Cancers for the general adult population. I maintain effective communication, a close working relationship with my patients and believe in providing personal care, tailored to their individual requirements. 

I have always enjoyed surgical innovations and, having received training in world-leading centres in England and Germany, one of my proudest achievements was to introduce laparoscopic (keyhole) colorectal surgery to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB). I continued to evolve care for patients with haemorrhoids (piles) by establishing HALO (Haemorrhoidal Artery Ligation Operation) and RAR (Recto-Anal Repair) procedures.
This is rooted in my passion to deliver holistic and long-term Colorectal Cancer Care to my patients, leading a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and specialist nurses. 

I am invested in the education of the future doctors of NHS Wales and am a recognised basic surgical skills trainer at Welsh Institute of Minimal Access Therapy (WIMAT), affiliated with RCS England. I am annually invited by RCS Edinburgh to lead a course on my sub-specialty, advanced laparoscopic colorectal surgery, to senior surgeons. Furthermore, I am both an Honorary Educational Supervisor, for Cardiff University Medical School students and postgraduate trainees, and an Honorary Surgical Tutor, regularly participating in a variety of teaching workshops and formal examinations. I believe these roles to be significant to keep up-to-date with surgical knowledge and giving back to the community. 

I believe Translational Research underpins advancement in clinical medicine, by bringing new knowledge, and streamlining day-to-day patient care. My contribution, in the capacity of a Site-Principle Investigator for ABUHB, has been to successfully lead a national clinical trial. I have also taken a keen interest in undertaking clinical trials specific to my field of interest, which were subsequently published in leading international peer-reviewed scientific journals. I continue to encourage my junior doctors in their research publications and conference endeavours.   

Key Points:
•    2 decades of quality-assured general and colorectal surgical care for Welsh patients 
•    Keen on surgical innovation and education
•    Actively involved in research, publications, and evidence-based practice

Whilst I am expertly trained in all areas of general, and more specifically, colorectal surgery, I have a particular interest in the surgery of haemorrhoids, hernias, and bowel cancer. 

I also offer ambulatory, minor surgeries under local anaesthaesia.

Colorectal Cancer, Colitis, hernia, Haemorrhoids, Colon Polyps

MBBS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS (Glas), FRCS (G Surg)

Year of first medical qualification: MBBS 1991

Association of Surgeons Great Britain & Ireland (ASGBI).
Association of Coloproctology Of Great Britain & Ireland (ACPGBI)
Welsh Surgical Society (WSS)
Welsh Association of gastroenterology (WAGE)
British medical association (BMA)

I am married and have two grown-up children. 
My hobbies (when I have the time) include gardening, outdoor walking, and cricket. 
I am an active member of a charitable cultural organisation supporting education and cultural exchange 

Current NHS position: Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon; Lead Clinician Colorectal MDT (ABUHB); Surgical Lead for Infection Control

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

(1) Sutureless preperitoneal mesh plug femoral hernioplasty.

Swarnkar K, Hopper N Ryder J. Feroz A. Stephenson BM.
American Journal of Surgery, 186 (2): 201-2, 2003 Aug. 

(2) 3 years follow-up of a twisted ileoanal pouch. 
Swarnkar K. Hopper N. Ryder J. Feroz A. Stephenson BM. 
Colorectal Disease. 6(2): 133-4, 2004 Mar. 

(3) Implantation anal metastasis after out-patient treatment of haemorrhoids.
Abbasakoor F, Srivastava V, Swarnkar K, Stephenson B M
Annals of Royal College of Surgeons of England 86(1):38-9, 2004 Jan.

(4) Laparoscopic Left hepatic cholecystectomy.
Hopper, K Swarnkar, B M Stephenson
Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques.
Part A.13 (6): 405-6, 2003Dec.

(5) Colonoscopically induced appendicitis.
Srivastava V, Pink J, Swarnkar K, Feroz A, Stephenson BM.
Colorectal Dis. 2004; 6: 124-125 

(6) Islamic practice: informed consent for stoma.
Khot UP, Vellacott KD, Swarnkar K
Colorectal Dis. 2005 Sep; 7(5):529-30. 

(7)    Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography after Billroth II gastrectomy--safe provision in a district general hospital. 
Swarnkar K. Stamatakis JD. Young WT. 
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 87(4): 274-6, 2005 Jul. 

(8)  Laparoscopic or trephine faecal diversion: is there a preferred approach and why? 
Jugool S. McKain ES. Swarnkar K. Vellacott KD. Stephenson BM. 
Colorectal Disease. 7(2):156-8, 2005 Mar. 

(9)  Randomized clinical trial of the effect of pneumoperitoneum on cardiac function and haemodynamics during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Jugool S. McKain ES. Swarnkar K. Vellacott KD. Stephenson BM.     British Journal of Surgery 91(11):1527, 2004 Nov. 

(10) Cardiac ischaemia and rhythm disturbances during elective colonoscopy.
A T George, A Rangaraj, C Davis, C Edwards, M Allison, K Swarnkar
Frontline Gastroenterology; 2010; 1: 131-137

(11)  A possible troponin leak arising from bowel preparation for elective colonoscopy- are there more implications than observed?
A T George, M Allison, K Swarnkar
Colorectal Disease 2010; 12(3): 270-271

(12)  Postoperative perforation secondary to retained capsule endoscopy
M Mortimer, C Beaton, K Swarnkar
Colorectal Disease 13(9): 318-9, 2011 Sep

(13)  De Garengeot’s Hernia: A rare presentation of an ischaemic appendix within a strangulated femoral hernia in an elderly male.
W Abdul, C Thomas, K Swarnkar
Int J Case Rep 2014; 5(12): 839-84

(14)    Appendicitis in Pregnancy: Difficulties in diagnosis and management. Guidance for the emergency General Surgeon: A systematic review
A Tase, M Kamarizan, K Swarnkar
Int Journal of Surgery 2017; 6: 5-11

(15)    Appendiceal neoplasm presenting as intussusception in an adult- a video vignette
J.S Williamson, K Swarnkar
Colorectal Disease 19 (4):400-401, 2017 

Published Abstracts and Correspondence

(1)    Laparoscopic Fundoplication- getting started.
    K Swarnkar, J McK Manson
    Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXI, 1998.

(2)    Early experience with Bariatric surgery in South West Wales
K Swarnkar, J N Baxter
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXII, 1999.

(3) Day case laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, District general hospital experience
 A Masoud, K Swarnkar, T Browne, J N Baxter
 Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXII, 1999.

(4) Surgical thrombo-embolectomy- 5 years experience
K Swarnkar, P Hobson, O E Klimach        
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXV, 2000.

(5)    Total mesorectal excision- ten years experience.
K Swarnkar, P Marsh, P J Billings
 Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXVIII, 2001.

(6)    The “two-week wait” rule detects only one-third of cases of colorectal cancer.
D Clements, K Swarnkar, G A Pritchard, J D Stamatakis
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol XXXIX, 2002.

(7)  Can urgent referral improve survival from colorectal cancer? 
K Swarnkar, D Clements, G A Pritchard, J D Stamatakis
Colorectal Disease, 2002, 4, 48 (8)

(8)    Experience with total mesorectal excision in district general hospital: a ten-year study
    K.Swarnkar, J Beynon, P J Marsh, P J Billings 
Colorectal Disease, 2002, 5, 96

(9)    Outcome of patients with severe chronic groin pain following repair of groin hernia. 
    K Swarnkar, N Hopper, B M Stephenson
    British Journal of Surgery, 2003; 90, 367-68.

(10)    Inguinal mesh-plug hernioplasty: a general surgeon’s experience of 679 repairs.
    N Hopper, K Swarnkar, J Ryder, B M Stephenson
    British Journal of Surgery, 2003, 90, 58. 

(11)  Sutureless mesh-plug femoral hernioplasty- a reliable approach.
 K Swarnkar, N Hopper, M Nelson, A Feroz, B M Stephenson
British Journal of Surgery, 2003, 90, 59.

(12)  Quality of life after minimalist approach to repair of recurrent inguinal hernia.
K Swarnkar, N Hopper, J Ryder, B M Stephenson
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol L, 2003.

(13)  Mesh Plug Repair of Paraumbilical Hernia
A Mirchandani, K Swarnkar
Proceedings of ASIT, March 2007

(14)   Intravenous Cannulation in Surgical Patients: Can we improve?
A T George, K Shute, K Swarnkar
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Nov 2007

(15)  The intravenous route in hospital patients- is it being misused?
A George, K Shute, K Swarnkar, D Grant, P Turner
Proceedings of the 18th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases. 

(16)Cardiac Risks of Colonoscopy- Are we aware?
A George, A Rangraj, M Allison, K Swarnkar
Proceedings of Welsh Surgical Society, Vol 52, Nov 2008

(17) Surveillance Colonoscopy after curative resection of colorectal cancer: What is the impact of First & Third year follow up Colonoscopy?
T Do, W Al- Khyatt, K Swarnkar
Volume 11, supplement1, P 17, Colorectal Disease, June 2009

(18) Colonoscopy- Health Gains but heart strains?
A George, A Rangraj, M Allison, K Swarnkar
 Gut, 0-21, A8, March 2009

(19)  Cardiovascular risk factors and silent cardiac events during colonoscopy                                                                                               
 AT George, C Davis, A Rangaraj, K Swarnkar
Vol 11, Supplement 1, P 28, Colorectal Disease, June 2009

(20)  An effective Scoring system to assess the cardiac risks of Colonoscopy.
A T George, A Raj, C Davis, C Edwards, P Cambell, K Swarnkar
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Vol 71, (5), 153-154, 2010

(21)  Defunctioning loop ileostomy in rectal cancer surgery- Help or hindrance?
 O Rutka, M Ramcharan, G Williams, K Swarnkar
 International Journal of Surgery, Vol 12, (3), S31, 201

(22)  Three in four Colorectal cancer patients with depression are not getting adequate treatment, studies finding.
R Gibson, H Dunstall, K Swarnkar
BMJ 2014;349: g5358