Colon & Small Bowel Surgery

Small bowel resection removes part of the small intestine to treat cancerous, precancerous or benign tumors or polyps; intestinal blocks; bleeding, infection, or ulcers; or other injuries. Under general anesthesia, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of the intestine and stitches the healthy ends together.

Laparoscopic small bowel resection requires three to four small incisions instead of the single large incision of open surgery. The abdomen may be filled with gas to help the surgeon see better. As with other laparoscopic procedures, laparoscopic small bowel resection offers patients the potential of a faster recovery, less post-operative pain and smaller scars.

For some patients, while the intestine is healing, a procedure called an ostomy may be done. A hole is made in the abdominal wall, and the healthy end of the intestine near the stomach is drawn through it. A drainage bag around the opening collects waste. Ostomies are usually temporary and may be reversed during a second operation, when the small bowel is closed.

Colon Resection

A colon resection is a surgical procedure to remove either part of or the entire colon (large intestine). A colon resection may be performed to treat the following colon conditions:

While the patient is under general anesthesia, an incision is made in the abdomen and the diseased part of the colon is located. The diseased part of the colon will be removed, and the healthy colon sewn back together. In more extensive operations, a colostomy may be performed in which a surgical opening is made through the abdomen to provide a path for waste elimination. A colostomy may be created as a temporary measure to allow more time for the colon to heal.

Laparoscopic colon resection requires three to four small incisions instead of one large one. The abdomen may be filled with gas to help the surgeon view the abdominal cavity better. As with other minimally invasive surgeries, laparoscopic colon resection results in a faster recovery, less post-operative pain, and smaller scars.

Gastric Surgery

Gastric resection is performed to remove a part of the stomach that contains malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These growths are most commonly gastric stromal tumors but may also be adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, gastrinomas, or various benign lesions. Gastric resection may be partial (e.g. enucleation, wedge resection and partial gastric resections) or total (gastrectomy). Total gastric resection is the only procedure with the potential to cure patients who have stomach cancer.

Laparoscopic gastric resection provides more patients with the opportunity to undergo surgery to remove cancerous or non-cancerous tumors in the stomach. The minimally invasive approach allows surgeons to help many patients with complications that make open surgery an unacceptable risk, including those who have had previous operations, who have high BMIs, or who suffer from additional illnesses such as hypertension or diabetes.

Hepatobillary Surgery

Hepatobiliary surgery is used to treat disorders of the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder. Disorders include congenital abnormalities, inflammations, traumatic injuries, gallstones, and benign and malignant tumors. During hepatobiliary surgery, the surgeon removes the unwanted masses, such as gallstones or cancerous parts of hepatobiliary organs.

Hepatobiliary surgery may be performed laparoscopically and has many of the benefits of other laparoscopic surgeries. This minimally invasive procedure provides patients with shorter hospitalization, a faster recovery, smaller scars, and less post-operative pain.

Endoscopic Surgery

An endoscope is a tube with a light and a camera that is inserted into the body to help doctors see inside patients' digestive systems to diagnose problems without the need for an incision.

The most common endoscopic procedures are colonoscopy (providing a view of the colon) and EGD or "upper endoscopy" (esophagus, stomach and small intestine).

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