General Surgery

Hernias occur when there is a weakness in the walls of the abdomen.  Hernia typically occur in the groin (inguinal), the belly button (umbilicus) or where previous incisions were made. These hernias can grow and cause pain.  In some, intestines can become trapped causing severe blockage that may require emergency surgery.  When done electively, hernias can be repaired with a short same-day operation using minimally invasive techniques.

Diverticular disease of the colon is an  outpouching of the walls of the colon caused by diets low in fiber.  These outpouchings can become inflamed and infected causing pain and fevers.  They can rupture leading to more severe abdominal infections that may require emergency surgery and hospitalization.  Treatment may involve dietary modifications such as drinking more water and eating more dietary fiber.  Fiber supplements may be an excellent means of adding more fiber to your daily intake.  When episodes occur repeatedly or severe problems arise because of diverticulitis, surgery may be beneficial.

These hernias occur when a portion or all of the stomach is displaced into the chest.  These hernias may go undetected for a long time.  Symptoms can include GERD, decreased appetite, early fullness, regurgitation, chest/stomach pain and breathing difficulty.  In more severe cases bleeding and twisting of the stomach can occur.  Patients with symptoms should consider a minimally invasive approach to repair these hernias.  Along with replacement of the stomach back into the abdomen, repair and reinforcement of the large defect in the diaphragm are essential steps to this procedure.   With careful planning, surgery is very safe and effective with little down time.  

The stomach can be affected by various tumors and cancer.  Like other types of digestive organ cancers, stomach cancer may have no symptoms.  If symptoms such as  dark stool from digested blood, indigestion, nausea, vomiting blood, unusual  fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal fullness, difficulty swallowing, or unexpected weight loss occur, immediately seek medical attention.  Evaluation with endoscopy and imaging techniques like CT scans may be used to determine a cause.  Depending on the type of tumor or cancer, surgery may be part of a treatment program designed to improve cure rates and maintain as much stomach function as possible.  

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.  Prevention starts with a good diet, healthy habits and routine screening.  Unfortunately, colon cancer does not have many symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage.  This can include bleeding when you have a bowel movement, changes to your stool caliber, blockage, pain and weight loss.  Early detection is important to catching colon cancer at its most curable stages.  Colonoscopy is the most effective tool we have for detecting precancerous growths in the colon and catching colon cancer at its earliest stages.  The earlier colon cancer is detected, the greater the chances of a complete cure with minimal intervention.  When surgery is necessary, minimally invasive techniques combining endoscopy and laparoscopy can be used to reduce the incision size and recovery time. 

The spleen is an organ that is located in the left upper part of the body under the left rib cage.  Its primary function is to remove old blood cells and prevent certain types of infection.  On occasion, the spleen can become enlarged or abnormally destroy platelets, a component in blood responsible for clotting.  These conditions may require removal of the spleen.  Planning will include making sure essential vaccines are given at least 2 weeks before spleen removal to reduce potentially life threatening infections.  Uncomplicated operations typically result in a hospital stay of less than 1 day. 

The gallbladder is an egg sized organ under the liver.  It functions to store bile for the digestion of fats.  The gallbladder can become inflamed or infected commonly because of stones in the gallbladder causing a blockage.  When the gallbladder causes pain, it may need to be removed.  Gallbladder removal is best done using small incisions to reduce the pain and time off from work or school.  In more severe cases, stones contained in the gallbladder may cause blockages to the bile ducts entering the small intestine.  Unblocking these ducts may require specialized techniques using thin flexible cameras and wire baskets to retrieve stones.  Fortunately, these procedures can be done using minimally invasive techniques.