General Surgery & Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the digestive system. General surgery involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to breasts, gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, rectum, endocrine system and other organs. Gastrointestinal diseases are one of the most common types of diseases. A surgery is performed for removal of cancerous, non-cancerous or damaged parts in the body such as the intestine.

Gastroenterology surgery is the treatment and management of diseases that are related to the gastrointestinal tract. A general gastroenterology surgery treats various conditions such as appendicitis, pancreatic diseases, gallbladder diseases, bowel conditions, achalasia and benign tumors. A general surgeon understands the basic areas of surgery such as digestive tract, abdomen and its contents and other parts. Minimally invasive surgeries are used for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases.

To seek treatment, you can consult a gastroenterologist near you or a general surgery doctor near you.

Who qualifies for such treatment?

Patients who are diagnosed with certain digestive and stomach-related medical conditions qualify for gastroenterology and general surgery. Surgeons would treat patients diagnosed with the following medical conditions:

Pancreatic diseases - pseudocyst and pancreatitis
Gallbladder diseases
Benign tumors that affect duodenum (a part of the small intestine), stomach, bile ducts and pancreas
Appendicitis
Achalasia
Some of the bowel conditions
Intestinal obstructions
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Why is this treatment needed?

Gastroenterology surgery is conducted for the treatment of diseases related to the gastrointestinal system. It involves management and treatment of the human gastrointestinal tract that involves organs such as the stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, small and large intestines, stomach, esophagus, etc. Surgeons would analyse and evaluate your medical reports and condition and plan the treatment.

What are the different types of general surgery under gastroenterology?

Some of the types of gastroenterology surgeries for the treatment of various gastrointestinal diseases are as follows:

Colon cancer surgery - This type includes local excision and colectomy. Local excision is performed when the cancer is at an early stage. Colectomy is performed when the cancer has advanced.
Esophageal cancer surgery - This surgery is called an esophagectomy during which the damaged part of the esophagus is removed and the healthy part is connected to the stomach.
Gallbladder cancer surgery - A gallbladder cancer surgery involves four procedures namely:
- Cholecystectomy - A surgery that removes the gallbladder and some tissues around it.
- Endoscopic stent placement - If the bile duct is getting blocked due to tumor, then surgery would help put a stent or a flexible tube to drain the bile.
- Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage - This procedure is performed when the endoscopic stent placement is not possible.
- Surgical biliary bypass - If a tumor blocks the small intestine and bile is getting developed in the gallbladder, the affected part would be removed and attached to the small intestine that would create a new path around the blocked area.
Liver disease surgery - Includes the following surgical procedures:
- Liver transplant - The liver is removed and replaced with a new liver that is taken from a healthy donor.
- Ablation - This procedure destroys the cancerous cells in the body.
- Partial hepatectomy - A part of the liver on which cancerous cells are found is removed.

What are the benefits?

General surgery and gastroenterology help remove cancerous or diseased body parts. Additionally, these also benefit those patients who are not able to get desired results from other treatment options such diet changes and medicines.

What are the risks?

Infection
Pain
Bleeding and blood clots
Damage to other parts of the body
Reaction to anesthesia

What steps would help reduce the risk of complications after surgery?

You can work on your pre-operative physical therapy to increase muscle mass and strength. Additionally, you can add more nutritional elements to your diet and quit smoking at least 6-8 weeks prior to your surgery.

Can a surgery be postponed because of weight?

Considering your medical condition and if the increased weight can lead to complications, your surgeon would suggest going for weight loss before surgery.

Does removal of appendix leads to a change in the diet and lifestyle of a person?

A patient does not need to change their exercise routine or diet after appendix removal.