The Importance of General Surgery in Healthcare
General Surgery
General surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders affecting the internal organs of the body.
This specialty focuses on the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and thyroid gland.
General surgeons also manage diseases involving the skin, breast, soft tissues, trauma, peripheral artery diseases, and hernias, and perform endoscopic procedures such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
General surgery, being one of the most comprehensive fields in medicine, encompasses the treatment of a wide range of diseases affecting the organs within its scope.
With the rapid advancements in technology and surgical techniques, treatments in this field are continuously evolving. This evolution allows the “general surgeon,” who focuses on various areas, to gain the status of a “specialized surgeon” by developing expertise in different aspects of general surgery.
Specialties of General Surgery
Breast Surgery
Benign tumors and cancers of the breast are treated using surgical techniques that are applied concurrently with personalized surgical methods, aimed at patient comfort and a multidisciplinary approach.
In breast cancer, the principle is to remove only the tumor area while preserving the integrity of the breast.
However, in cases where a total mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) is required due to tumors developing in multiple areas, breast aesthetics are restored through reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries performed simultaneously, thereby eliminating the risk of the patient losing the organ.
Endocrine Surgery
These are surgical treatments applied to diseases of the body’s endocrine glands that require surgery. The surgical treatment of benign and malignant thyroid diseases, nodular goiter, toxic goiter, thyroid cancer, parathyroid diseases, adrenal gland diseases, tumors, and benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas falls under the scope of endocrine surgery.
In thyroid surgery, special applications are used to prevent bleeding and voice loss, which negatively affect patient comfort. The risk of bleeding is reduced by ensuring vessel closure from the desired location using “energy devices” employed during surgery.
Nerve monitoring, which protects the nerves leading to the vocal cords that allow the person to speak during surgery, is also used, enabling the surgeon to control nerve function during the operation.
Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract Surgery
In general surgery, benign diseases and tumors of the liver, pancreas, and biliary tracts are treated under the name of liver, pancreas, and biliary tract surgery.
Modern techniques are applied in the surgery of gastrointestinal tumors. Patients are evaluated before cancer surgery, and the most suitable surgical methods are used.
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Surgical treatments for benign diseases and cancers of the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, esophagus, and rectum are performed under the name of gastrointestinal surgery.
The most appropriate surgical techniques for patients are determined by the decision of a council at general surgery centers, and advanced surgical techniques applied at the most advanced cancer centers in the world are offered to patients.
A significant portion of operations in tumor surgery is performed with laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique, allowing the patient a comfortable recovery period post-procedure and sufficient time for additional treatments. In gastrointestinal surgery, intestinal tumor surgeries with liver metastases are particularly successful.
Bariatric Surgery
Surgical interventions applied for therapeutic purposes for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 40, or a BMI higher than 35 with certain chronic diseases, leading to significant health issues.
Bariatric surgeries are performed using minimally invasive methods, allowing for a short recovery time. With the declining use of procedures such as gastric banding, more effective and commonly used methods include sleeve gastrectomy surgeries.
Rectal Surgery
Common anorectal diseases (diseases of the large intestine, rectum, and anal area) require an experienced and specialized team with the technology and equipment necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Problems in this area are addressed by providing patients with high-level diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. In rectal surgery, surgical treatments are performed for internal and external hemorrhoids, perianal abscesses and fistulas, intestinal hernias, anal itching, colon and rectal cancer, and anal and perianal warts.
General Surgery Procedures
Some common procedures performed by a general surgeon include:
- Open Surgery: This surgery is performed through an incision in the skin.
- Laparoscopic Surgery: This surgery is done using a small instrument equipped with a tiny camera, inserted through a small incision in the skin.
- Robotic Surgery: This surgery is performed using a surgical robot controlled remotely by the surgeon.
Importance of General Surgery
General surgery is essential because it provides treatment for various medical conditions that can be serious or life-threatening. For example, general surgery can be used to treat:
- Acute conditions such as hernias or appendicitis.
- Chronic conditions such as cancer or diabetes.
- Cosmetic conditions such as mastectomy or liposuction.
- Diseases Treated by a General Surgeon
The diseases within the scope of the General Surgery Unit can be listed as follows:
- Thyroid diseases
- Appendicitis
- Pain, swelling, stiffness, or tenderness in the breast
- Pain or swelling in the abdominal area
- Bone problems (including gangrene)
- Hemorrhoids
- Problems of the small and large intestines
- Liver problems
- Stomach issues
- Skin problems
- Blood in the stool
- Abdominal pain
- Persistent and recurrent diarrhea and constipation
- Pain under the right rib, feeling of pressure, and pain extending to the right shoulder. Tension in the right shoulder area
- Pain and swelling occurring in and around the navel area
- Pain and swelling in the groin area
- Injuries and trauma
- Pain and discomfort in the gallbladder
- Pancreatic problems
- Abscesses
- Moles on the surface of the skin
- Fistulas
How a General Surgeon Diagnoses Different Diseases
Accurate diagnosis is crucial for the treatment of general surgery diseases. The process begins by taking a detailed patient history and understanding their medical background.
This is followed by necessary radiological and biochemical tests, and a physical examination. The diagnostic methods used in general surgery can be recorded as follows:
Imaging of the pancreas and bile ducts (ERCP):
It is used to diagnose and treat diseases of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas, for which a light long applicator is inserted through the mouth to inject tincture and monitor the results on a computer.
Endoscopy:
It is performed by inserting a tube with a camera and light through the mouth to examine the stomach and intestines.
Colonoscopy:
It is used to examine the colon and rectum by inserting a tube with a camera through the anus.
Echography:
It is based on sound waves to examine tissues and organs in detail, and is used to obtain three-dimensional images.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):
It is used to view an object in high detail using radio waves and a magnetic field.
Biopsy:
It is used in case other methods do not respond, taking a piece of tissue for examination.
Exploratory surgery:
They can be applied to observe the disease when diagnostic methods are insufficient, since an incision is opened in the abdomen for examination.
Robotic general surgery
Robotic general surgery is a modern surgical technique based on the use of robots to perform surgical operations. These robots are designed to improve surgeons ‘ vision and provide precise control during surgery, contributing to better patient outcomes.
The approach is characterized by high-resolution three-dimensional vision and precise movements, reducing the size of surgical incisions and thereby reducing the size of the scar.
In addition, the recovery time after robotic general surgery is usually characterized by shorter involvement compared to conventional surgery.
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