Surgical Gastroenterology

The following surgical gastroenterology gastrointestinal problems can be treated surgically:

Appendicitis: The appendix may need to be removed if it becomes inflamed and large.

Colon cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers: Malignant tumors in the digestive system as well as cancerous portions of the digestive system are removed surgically. For instance, a surgeon might remove a tumor along with a cancerous section of the intestine, liver, or pancreas. 

Diverticular disease: A colonic diverticulum is a little pocket or pouch (large intestine). Researchers don’t know what causes them. The cause of these is unknown to researchers. Sometimes they might swell and ache (diverticulitis). When treating this, surgery is generally avoided. If a patient has many diverticulae that frequently swell up, the doctor may suggest bowel resection surgery to remove that piece of the intestine.

Gallbladder disease: Gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder problems, which can be treated by removing the gallbladder. Cholecystectomy is another name for the procedure used to remove the gallbladder.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernias: Acid reflux, often known as GERD, occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus (food pipe), causing heartburn. Occasionally, a hiatal hernia can cause it. At this stage, the stomach bursts through the muscle known as the diaphragm, which separates the chest from the belly. A surgeon can carry out a treatment known as a fundoplication to rectify it (fun-doh-pluh-cay-shun). Before tightening the sphincter that keeps acid out by wrapping the top of the stomach over the base of the esophagus, the surgeon will address any hernias if they are present.

Hernia: A hernia occurs when a portion of the body, such as the intestine, protrudes through a tear or weak spot in the muscle or connective tissue wall that is meant to act as a barrier (like the abdomen). Although it doesn’t penetrate the skin, a protrusion that shouldn’t be there may be felt beneath the skin. It might also hurt. Gastrointestinal surgeons can close the gap or strengthen the weak area.

Inflammatory bowel disease: The immune system targets the intestines in inflammatory bowel disease, which results in discomfort and inflammation. The result could be injury to the intestine. After the damaged portions have been removed, the healthy pieces are occasionally rejoined. It’s referred to as a bowel resection.

Rectal prolapse: Surgery is used to address the condition known as rectal prolapse, in which a part of the intestine passes through the anus.

Weight loss: To manage obesity, many types of bariatric surgery (such gastric bypass) may be performed. A bariatric surgery expert typically performs this procedure.

What are the benefits of surgical gastroenterology?

Many different types of bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass, may be performed to treat obesity. This technique is usually carried out by a specialist in bariatric surgery.

A colonoscopy, a simple medical procedure, can find colon cancer early enough to treat it. It is essential to have the recommended colon cancer screening.