In spite of its name, general surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses
on abdominal contents including the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon,
liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and thyroid gland. General surgeons
also deal with diseases involving skin, breast, soft tissue, and hernias.
General surgeons have a broad skillset and expansive knowledge of the
human body.
Some people hear the term “general surgeon” and believe it
refers to a run of the mill surgeon without any specialized skills. In
truth, general surgeons are highly trained professionals who are more
skilled at viewing the body as a whole than many other medical professionals.
You can greatly benefit from the skills of a general surgeon if you are
dealing with the following:
Appendicitis
Hernias
Gallbladder problems
Stomach cancer
Intestinal issues
Colon cancer
Stomach
Esophagus
Small bowel
The Holistic Approach of General Surgeons
General surgeons understand how the changes they make in one area of the
body will affect the rest of it. This holistic approach to surgery is
advantageous in many operations. The American Board of Surgery says that
a certified general surgeon must be prepared to assist patients who require
palliative care, pain management, end-of-life-care, weight loss assistance,
and comorbid chronic diseases.
At Myrtue Medical Center, our general surgeon, Dr. LeRoy Hodges, leads
our surgical team. He is highly skilled and experienced in minimally invasive
procedures, and helps patients find the ideal surgical solution for their
situation.
