What is General Surgery?
General Surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the treatment of a variety of disorders frequently requiring surgery. A board-certified general surgeon is required to complete five years of additional training after receiving the medical doctor degree. This training involves learning how to evaluate a patient's medical condition and determining whether surgery is the best type of treatment available. A general surgeon receives extensive training in specific surgical procedures, presurgical patient consultation, and patient follow-up care. Some of the more common problems treated by a general surgeon are; thyroid tumors, breast tumors, gallbladder disease, colon tumors, appendicitis, and hernias.

What is minimally invasive surgery?
It is surgery preformed by making several small incisions in the abdominal wall and inserting a camera called a laparoscope.

How is minimally invasive surgery performed?
A miniature camera is introduced into the body through a small incision and transmits images back to a video monitor, enabling the surgeon to diagnose and, if necessary, treat a variety of conditions. To treat the condition, the physician inserts surgical instruments and auxiliary devices, such as irrigation and drainage devices, through one or more small incisions. Sometimes a larger incision is necessary to remove a diseased organ.

What are the benefits of minimally invasive surgery?
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include the following: (a) Less pain, decreased need for post-surgical pain medication, (b) Minimal scarring, (c) Less likelihood of complications related to the incision, (d) Reduced therapy requirements (e) Earlier return to full activity.

What are the risks associated with minimally invasive surgery?
Complications of any surgery are bleeding, infection, pneumonias, blood clots and heart /lung problems; accidental damage to the bowel or blood vessels within the abdomen or pelvis and minor complications such as bleeding or bruising around the skin cuts.

What are the most commonly preformed minimally invasive surgical procedures?
Commonly performed minimally invasive procedures include: Hernia Repair, Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy (gallbladder), Nissen Fundoplication (anti-reflux), Colectomy or other gastrointestinal surgeries. Adrenalectomy Splenectomy Gastric Banding and Bypass for weight loss.

How do patients feel after minimally invasive surgery?
There is usually pain at the incision site and often a sense of general discomfort over the abdomen. Many patients report pain at their shoulder tip, which is due to the indirect effect of small amounts of carbon dioxide remaining in the abdomen. Most patients are fully recovered within 48 to 72 hours.