General Surgery
General surgery is a branch of medical specialty or department that requires knowledge, skill, and management regarding the preoperative, operative, and postoperative care of patients with a wide variety of diseases, including those which need nonoperative, elective, or emergency surgical treatment. General surgery stresses contents, which include the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, appendix and bile ducts, and the thyroid gland. The depth of this knowledge may vary according to the disease and are involved. Surgical management requires skill in diagnosis as well as treatment and management, including operative intervention.
Types: With the latest advancements in technology, surgery isn’t restricted to large incisions, as it was done in previous times. Depending on the kind of surgeries, there are various surgical approaches that may be carried out:
Open surgery: An "open" surgery means the slitting of skin and surrounding tissues involved so that the surgeon gets complete access to the structures or organs present inside. Examples include the removal of organs like the Gall bladder or kidneys.
Minimally invasive surgery: This technique in surgery does not require a large incision for treatment. However, this rather newly based approach allows the patient to recover faster with less pain and minimum scarring. Not all conditions are indicated for minimally invasive surgery, but many surgery techniques now fall under minimally invasive surgery e.g. laparoscopy, gastroscopy etc. Common Surgical Procedures
Some of the most regularly performed surgical operations include the following:
Appendectomy is the surgical procedure carried out to remove the infected appendix. The appendix is a very thin pouch-like structure attached to the large intestine. Appendicitis is the acute inflammation of this pouch due to infection. The infection may take place when the opening of the appendix becomes obstructed either with bacteria or stool, causing the appendix to become swollen and inflamed.
Treatment: These are two types of appendectomy: open and laparoscopic.
While performing an open appendectomy, a surgeon makes one incision in the lower right side of the abdomen. Then appendix is removed, and the wound is closed with stitches.
During a laparoscopic appendectomy, a surgeon gets access to the appendix through a few small incisions in your abdomen. A cannula will then be inserted to inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas. Once the abdomen is inflated, a laparoscope is inserted, and an appendix is revealed. It will be removed accordingly, and small incisions sutured.
Common risks include infection, bleeding and injury to associated areas.
Cholecystectomy is a surgical approach performed to remove the organ called the Gallbladder, which is a pear-shaped organ located near the right portion of the liver that contains bile. A gallbladder is indicated to be removed if the organ is prone to gallstones. Gallstones are small micro-crystals that appear in the Gall’s bladder. They are responsible for the blockage of the flow of bile out of the Gall’s bladder into the digestive system. This blockage causes a condition called cholecystitis which means inflammation of the Gall bladder. Gallstones can also transfer to other parts of the body and cause problems.
Removing the Gall bladder will stop the pain and treat the infection caused by gallstones. It can also stop gallstones from coming back.
If gallstones are not treated, pain and infection can get worse. The Gall bladder may burst, which can be life-threatening.
Common risks include bleeding, leakage of bile in the body, injury to bile ducts, numbness in the surgical area.
Other procedures include wound debridement, burn, or infection, which involves the surgical intervention for removal of any foreign material, dead or damaged/infected tissue from a wound. After removing the diseased or dead tissue, healthy tissue is exposed to allow for more effective healing and regeneration.
Hemorrhoidectomy is the surgical extraction of hemorrhoids, distended veins in the lower rectum or anus. They can cause itching, bleeding, and pain.
The procedure involves the surgeon inserting a scope into the anal canal for closer viewing of internal hemorrhoids. They'll then chop the hemorrhoidal tissue with a scalpel or laser and close the wound with dissolvable sutures. This is called a closed hemorrhoidectomy.
Complications are rare and include slow healing, small tears causing pain, anus stenosis and urinary retention.
Inguinal hernia: An inguinal hernia takes place when certain tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot or opening in the abdominal muscles. The following bulge can be painful, especially when you cough, bend over or lift a heavy object. Surgical repair pulls the intestine back to its original location.
There are two main types of hernia operation, namely open hernia repair and minimally invasive hernia repair.
In an Open hernia repair procedure, which might be performed with local anesthesia or general anesthesia, the surgeon marks an incision in the groin area and thrusts back the protruding tissue back into the abdomen area. The surgeon then sutures the weakened area, often reinforcing it with a synthetic mesh (hernioplasty). The opening is then closed with stitches, staples or surgical glue.
In a minimally invasive hernia repair procedure requiring general anesthesia, the surgeon operates through several small incisions in your abdomen. The surgeon may use laparoscopic or open surgery to repair your hernia.
Complications include:
Services Offered
Did you know that chronic sinusitis affects more than 12% of the global adult population? Sinusitis is defined as a common condition that occurs when your sinus and the nasal passage become inflamed and irritated – typically…
