General Surgery & Gastroenterology
Surgery is the branch of medicine that uses physical operations that are carried out for treatment of diseases, disorders or injuries to our body. Surgeries can be broadly categorized into four types - wound treatment, extirpative surgery, reconstructive surgery and transplantation surgery.
These surgical techniques have vastly improved and changed, due to advancements and research on the technology used for medical science. New and advanced surgical techniques such as MIS (minimally invasive surgeries) are replacing conventional open surgeries in most cases.
They have largely impacted the field of gastroenterology, a branch of medical science that heavily relies on surgeries for treating disorders of the digestive system.
What is gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is a branch of medical science that focuses on the digestive system, its organs, and the disorders that afflict them.
These diseases affect the gastrointestinal tract, which includes organs such as the mouth, alimentary canal, stomach, intestines, liver, anus, etc. Gastroenterologists diagnose these gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, prescribe medicines to treat them and perform various types of surgeries.
Gastrointestinal diseases such as gallbladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tumors, inflammation, colorectal cancer, GI bleeding, liver disorders, IBD, etc. affect the gastrointestinal tract. Depending on your health condition, your doctor may suggest that you undergo GI surgery.
GI surgeries may be performed as open surgeries or minimally invasive ones, based on multiple factors.
To know more, you can consult a gastroenterologist near you or a general surgery doctor near you.
What are the types of GI surgeries?
Depending on the disease that has affected your GI tract, your doctor may recommend one of these types of gastrointestinal surgeries:
- Colorectal surgery - To treat the disorders of the colon, rectum, anus and large intestine
- Bariatric surgery - To treat obesity by reducing the size of the stomach
- Nephrectomy surgery - To treat a patient’s diseased kidney/s, replace them or remove them
- Foregut surgery - To treat the upper digestive tract: esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine
- Nissen fundoplication - To treat GERD
- Pancreatic surgeries - To treat various types of ailments of the pancreas
- Cholecystectomy - To treat gallstones
- Cancer surgeries - To treat cancer that develops in the colon, gallbladder, esophagus, pancreas or other intestinal organs
Why are gastroenterological procedures performed?
Gastroenterological surgery may be required, depending on the disease, the organs that have been affected, other biological conditions of a patient, the severity or chronicity of the disease and other factors. On most occasions, a doctor looks for signs and symptoms of diseases of the GI tract. These symptoms could be related to:
- Infection or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or its organs
- Tumors, cysts, lumps, blockages or other complications
- Cancer
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Bleeding
- Abdominal or intestinal pain
- Loss of the internal lining (of stomach, intestines)
- IBS
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- GERD
- Crohn’s Disease
- Celiac disease
- Ulcers
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Hiatal hernia
If you observe any of the symptoms or signs mentioned above, you should seek medical advice from an experienced gastroenterologist. Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Chirag Enclave, Delhi. Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment with gastroenterologists and specialists.
What are the benefits of gastroenterological surgeries?
They are performed:
- To facilitate weight loss through bariatric surgeries
- To remove cancer cells
- To observe the state of internal organs through endoscopic techniques
- To extract samples of infected tissues through laparoscopic measures
- To remove crystals or stones such as gallbladder stones, kidney stones, etc.
- To perform restorative surgical procedures
- To perform bypass surgeries
- To treat various disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
If you are seeking treatment for any of these gastrointestinal disorders,
request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Chirag Enclave, Delhi.
Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.
Conclusion
Thus, general surgical techniques have largely benefited the field of gastroenterology. GI surgeries have helped patients recover from their digestive disorders and improved their quality of life to a great extent. These GI surgeries can even treat some chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The surgery performed to remove the appendix is called appendectomy. It is a gastroenterological surgery that removes this vestigial organ.
Yes. Minimally invasive surgeries are largely performed by GI doctors and surgeons, for treating diseases and disorders of the GI tract. They cause less post-op pain, are highly accurate and require much smaller incisions.
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy, Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy, Colon Surgery, Nissen Fundoplication for GERD, Laparoscopic Nephrectomy, Pancreatic Surgery and Laparoscopic Splenectomy are some of the types of MIS surgeries.