General Surgical Associates

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women and affects one in every eight women in the United States. If a diagnosis of breast cancer has been made, your doctor can recommend which type of surgery is best for your individual case and discuss all options with you. A mastectomy is a procedure to remove the breast in patients with breast cancer. This is one of the most commonly used treatment options for breast cancer, as it effectively removes all traces of cancer and reduces a patient's risk of recurrence. Also known as breast-conserving or breast-sparing surgery, lumpectomy is a surgical procedure that removes cancerous or abnormal breast tissue. While mastectomy removes the entire breast, lumpectomy only removes a portion of the breast, keeping its overall appearance intact. Breast reconstruction is a procedure performed after a mastectomy to offer patients psychological and aesthetic benefits when recovering from breast cancer. To read more about Breast Cancer Surgery, click here.

Colorectal surgery is often the recommended course of treatment for certain diseases such as colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, intestinal blockage due to scar tissue, ulcerative colitis that does not respond to medication, traumatic injuries and polyps. Polyps are a small cluster of cells that form on the lining of the colon or the large intestine. Most polyps are not cancerous and are simply a result of abnormal cell growth, but some can gradually turn into colon cancer, so regular screening and removal of all polyps is important. Prior to colorectal surgery, the colon may need to be cleaned with an enema or oral agent. Then, the patient is put under general anesthesia. A series of small incisions are made in the abdomen through which an endoscope and surgical instruments are inserted. Working through these tiny incisions with the help of the endoscopic camera, the surgeon removes the diseased intestine and sews the remaining ends together. The incisions are then stitched closed. After undergoing colorectal surgery, most patients return home within a week. Full recovery generally takes up to two months.

The endocrine glands are responsible for secreting hormones in our bodies. These glands include the thyroid in the front of the neck, four parathyroids behind the thyroid, two adrenal glands near each kidney, neuroendocrine glands in the pancreas, and the pituitary gland in the brain. Endocrine surgeons have special expertise in operating on the endocrine glands when they produce abnormal and harmful amounts of hormones. Surgical removal of all or part of an endocrine gland is often an effective treatment for cancer and benign tumors, cysts, nodules, parathyroid adenoma, Grave’s disease, Cushing’s Syndrome, Conn’s Disease and pheochromocytoma.

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.

General surgery is a medical specialty that necessitates its practitioners have a broad knowledge of many conditions and the effects they may have on the body. General surgeons are well equipped to diagnose and treat a wide variety of ailments. They receive extensive training after medical school, with hands-on residencies that give general surgeons practical, in-depth experience working on the digestive system, skin, breasts, organs of the abdomen and more to prepare them to perform complex surgeries of all types. One area of general surgery in which we specialize is hernia repair. This can encompass a simple hernia repair—performed laparoscopically if possible—to push tissue that is protruding through an opening in the abdomen, groin or naval area back into place. It may also be highly complex surgery if the abdominal wall requires reconstruction. Once the tissue is returned to its original location, the weakened area of the wall must be strengthened with stitching or synthetic mesh to prevent the formation of another hernia.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems of the abdominal and pelvic areas. During this procedure, an endoscope (tube) with a camera on the end is inserted through a tiny incision to allow your doctor to closely examine the organs of the area. Surgical instruments can be inserted through additional incisions to treat any identified problems. This procedure may be performed for a number of reasons, including to: - Perform a biopsy - Examine and possibly remove any growths (such as tumors) - Check for metastasis (spreading) of cancer from other areas - Repair a hernia - Remove organs such as the spleen, gallbladder or appendix Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia and takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on what is done during the procedure. Patients can usually go home shortly after the procedure and return to work and other normal activities the next day. Strenuous activity should be avoiding for about a week. Laparoscopy is considered a safe procedure with little risk of complications. We specialize in advanced laparoscopic procedures for the following: - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - The Spleen - The Adrenal Gland - The Colon

Sometimes the most effective way to treat a malignant tumor is to surgically excise (remove) the diseased tissue. A general surgeon may be chosen for this task when the cancer is present in the breast, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver or endocrine system, and potentially for melanoma and sarcoma as well. Once the tumor has been removed, additional therapies may be recommended to lower the chance of recurrence. These treatments may include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or ultrasound or laser surgery. Early detection and the latest techniques and technologies are used to achieve the best possible outcome.

Fundoplication, commonly known as reflux surgery, is a surgical procedure used to correct problems of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It may also be used on patients with esophagitis or to repair a hiatal hernia. This procedure prevents acid from traveling back into the esophagus by strengthening the valve between the esophagus and stomach. During fundoplication, the fundus (the upper part of the stomach) is wrapped around a band of muscles at the base of the esophagus and sewn into place. This helps strengthen the LES muscles and increases pressure on them, preventing reflux from occurring. The LES muscles are supposed to open when food is present in the esophagus, in order to let it into the stomach, but is supposed to close once the food has entered, serving as a one-way valve. In many people, the valve is not strong enough to stay closed and acid may flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining.

The structures of our musculoskeletal system - the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and other tissues - are highly susceptible to damage caused by trauma from accidents, injuries and other events. These traumatic events may include a fall, automobile accident or sports injury, and often involve a direct blow or twisting on a specific area of the body, causing pain, swelling, inflammation, and other sometimes serious complications.

Robotic-assisted surgery is the least invasive and often most effective procedure available. Addressing the shortcomings of other types of surgery, robotic surgery offers many advantages to both patient and doctor. It combines the effective control of open surgery with the less invasive approach of laparoscopy. Robotic-assisted surgery is usually performed with the da Vinci® Surgical System, a console made by Intuitive Surgical that is considered the best in these types of procedures. The system is comprised of a surgeon console, where the surgeon sits and operates the master controls as he views the operating area through real-time images; the patient-side cart, which has four robotic arms that actually perform the procedure as well as provide images for the surgeon; and the EndoWrist instruments, which are the tools that perform the intricacies of the procedure and are completely controlled by the surgeon. This approach offers patients effective treatment of their condition as well as: - Less pain - Less bleeding - Less scarring - Shorter recovery time - Lower risk of infection