Overview
This is surgery done on the gastro intestinal tract – for various diseases of the GI tract.
The operation can be done through the conventional open method ( through a cut/ incision on the abdomen ) or through any of the minimally invasive methods which include either laparoscopic method of Robotic Surgery.
Commonest indications to perform such operations include
- Cancer of the stomach – removal of parts of the stomach for cancers and neuroendocrine tumours
- Cancer and tumours of the small intestine
- Cancer of the large intestine and large polyps of the large intestine – colon cancer.
- Rectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Surgery on the gall bladder for cancer and gall stones- removal of the gall bladder for stone- laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
- Surgery on the pancreas for cancer and pancreatitis – commonest reason for pancreas surgery is due to cancer of the pancreas when variable portion of the pancreas is removed either through a whipple procedure or distal pancreatectomy depending on the location of the tumour.
- Surgery on the liver – hepatectomy which involves removal of part of the liver which is affected with cancer- either cancer arising in the liver – hepatio cellular Carcinoma : HCC or Cholangiocarcinoma : CCA or cancer which has spread to the liver from elsewhere- liver metastases
- Surgery for large tumours in the abomen – neuro endocrine tumours / retroperitoneal tumours and masses
- Surgery for miscellaneous abdominal conditions – acute abdomen , including perforation / obstruction and infections.