What is general and digestive system surgery?
General and digestive system surgery is the medical speciality that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases that affect any part of the digestive system, retroperitoneum, endocrine system, breast, abdominal wall, skin and soft parts.
All treatments are supported by the most modern diagnostic techniques and performed in line with the latest advances in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery, whenever minimally invasive surgery techniques are possible. Our goal is to allow patients to go back to their usual physical and work activities as soon as possible with the best aesthetic and functional results.
Which patients is it for?
Any patient with health problems in their digestive system, abdominal wall and the other systems and anatomical areas mentioned should consult a specialist so that they can diagnose any conditions and, if necessary, proceed to their surgical treatment.
Main conditions and diseases
This medical speciality deals with a wide range of conditions. These include:
- Hernias, diastasis of the rectum and abdominal wall defects
- Surgical pathology of the skin and soft tissues
- Primary benign and malignant tumours
- Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
- Spleen surgery
- Hiatus hernia
- Gastrointestinal surgery
- Polyps and colorectal cancer
- Fissures, haemorrhoids, fistulas
- Anal incontinence
- Pelvic floor disorders
- Bariatric surgery (obesity)
- Diabetes surgery
- Major outpatient surgery
- Thyroid and parathyroid
- Breast surgery
- Acute appendicitis
- Diverticular disease of the colon and diverticulitis
- Foreign bodies
- Intestinal obstruction
- Perforations and haemorrhages
- Injuries
Main diagnostic resources and technology
Diagnostic imaging tests in general, as well as colonoscopies and gastroscopies are the main diagnostic resources used by general and digestive system surgery specialists.
Other tests, such as anorectal ultrasound, manometry and high-resolution anuscopy in the field of coloproctology, are also performed in the clinic.
Main treatments
In addition to surgical treatment, both with open (in the smallest of cases) and laparoscopic (most of the time) or even robotic-assisted surgery, general and digestive system surgeons also perform other types of treatments, either alone or in collaboration with other medical professionals.
Areas of specialisation
- Colorectal surgery
- Proctology
- Bariatric and diabetes surgery
- Abdominal wall surgery
- Thyroid surgery
- Hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery
- Oesophageal-gastric surgery
- Breast surgery
Special services
All Vithas hospitals perform minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries. In addition, four group hospitals (Vithas Vigo, Vithas Madrid Arturo Soria, Vithas Sevilla and Vithas Benalmádena) have the da Vinci robotic surgical system, allowing us to perform robotic-assisted surgery with maximum guarantees of precision, safety and minimum patient recovery time.
Why come to our clinic?
Vithas hospitals offer patients personalised, professional and quality treatment.
FAQs
What is laparoscopic surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery is a type of surgery that leaves small scars and avoids the need to open the body completely (open surgery) as it uses a small video camera to allow the surgeon to see inside the body. These types of minimally invasive surgeries are the most common, especially in some medical specialities.
A further evolution of laparoscopic surgery is robotic-assisted surgery, which is also minimally invasive and offers great benefits for both the physician and the patient.
What is outpatient surgery?
Outpatient surgery is surgery that does not require hospital admission or a hospital stay shorter than 24 hours. This can either be minor outpatient surgery (patient can go home to recover a few hours after surgery) or major surgery, for which you’ll need to spend more time in hospital before you can leave.
