General surgery

Description

General surgery is the surgical specialty that focuses on the digestive system, endocrine system, non-cardiovascular abdominal surgeries, hernia repairs, some thoracic surgeries etc.

Many of the interventions in general surgery can be performed laparoscopically.

Treatment

Bilateral inguinal hernioplasty (laparoscopic surgery) +

DEFINITION:

Hernioplasty is the surgery that repairs an inguinal hernia.

The procedure can be performed by open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, depending on the characteristics of the patient and the size of the hernia.

DESCRIPTION:

The hernia repair can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

Both techniques involve the insertion of a strengthening mesh to strengthen the abdominal wall.

Open surgery requires an incision in the groin area to remove the hernia sac. The open procedure usually lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.

Laparoscopic surgery requires three or four small incisions for the medical tools. It is usually performed under general anesthesia and it lasts about an hour.

Both techniques require a day of hospitalisation at most.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients can start walking the day after surgery but they should avoid efforts for a few days. They can recover daily activities a few days later but it is recommended to wait about three weeks to practice rough sports.

Cholecystectomy (laparoscopic surgery) +

DEFINITION:

Cholecystectomy is the surgery used to remove a damaged gallbladder.

Usually, this surgery is made when gallstones appears. They are solid stones that block the flow of bile.

Cholecystectomy can be performed by open or laparoscopic surgery.

DESCRIPTION:

In both surgeries the procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is done through small incisions and requires one day of hospitalisation. The traditional cholecystectomy requires a larger incision to remove the gallbladder and requires patients to remain hospitalised for several days after surgery,

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.
Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

After the operation patients should follow a special diet of liquids and soft foods for three or four weeks.

During the first few days, patients may feel nausea and discomfort, so a moderate period of rest is recommended.

Patients will recover their normal diet and activity gradually.

Colectomy or Hemicolectomy +

DEFINITION:

A colectomy is the removal of a diseased part of the bowel or colon. When it proves necessary to remove the whole colon and rectum, the operation is called a proctocolectomy and if half is removed (right or left) it is called a hemicolectomy.

Generally speaking, this surgery is complemented by a reconstruction of bowel transit.

DESCRIPTION:

A large bowel resection can be carried out by means of open or laparoscopic surgery.

With open surgery, an incision is made in the abdomen whereby the diseased part of the colon is removed and the two healthy ends are then sutured. Laparoscopic surgery is carried out by means of minor incisions in the abdomen. Both the colectomy and the hemicolectomy are carried out under general anaesthetic and require hospitalisation of around 4 or 5 days.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE:

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients usually make a full recovery from the procedure after one or two months, though the time is shorter when the procedure is carried out with a laparoscopy. During this time patients must avoid making any effort and follow the diet set by their doctor.

Hiatal hernia +

DEFINITION:

Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach sticks upward into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm (the layer of muscle, used in breathing that separates the thorax from the abdomen).

DESCRIPTION:

Laparoscopic repair of the hiatal hernia consists of surgical construction of a pressure valve on the oesophageal sphincter to prevent displacement of the stomach.

The surgery takes around one hour and it is performed under general anesthesia. It only needs some little cuts to introduce the medical tools.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.
Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients can start walking from the next day after surgery and can gradually recover their daily activities like climbing stairs, driving, working, etc.

Medical appointment +

International medical appointment for diagnosis, second opinion, medical advice etc.

Partial thyroidectomy +

DEFINITION:

The Hemithyroidectomy involves removing half of the thyroid gland and the central portion or isthmus. The intervention is indicated in cases of benign thyroid nodules and to treat some types of thyroid cancers.

DESCRIPTION:

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia through a transversal incision at the base of the neck. It usually lasts about 90 minutes and usually requires no more than 24 hours of hospitalization.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative process that includes, blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if you have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, please tell the surgeon about before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients probably have some minor pain after surgery because of the posture during surgery that progressively disappears.

Patients to get up and walk on the day after surgery but they have to wait about 3 or 4 weeks to fully recover.

It is recommended to check the calcium and hormonal levels in your blood after surgery because sometimes there are disarranges. Patients also have to avoid the sun to prevent dark marks on the scar.

Radical mastectomy +

DESCRIPTION:

The procedure involves removing the breast and, in some cases, the nipple and areola, the lymph nodes under the arm and all or some of the pectoral muscles. This depends on each case.

Mastectomy is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes about two to three hours.

The patient must be in the hospital for one or two days, depending on the characteristics of the operation.

After mastectomy breast can be reconstructed with a prosthesis or own tissue.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Sometimes the patients leave the hospital with chest drains. They have to return to the hospital to remove them after a few days.

Patients may experience pain in the area of intervention that will disappear in a few days. It is common the development of seromas or fluid accumulations in the area of the mastectomy.

Total thyroidectomy +

DEFINITION:

A total thyroidectomy involves removing the thyroid. The intervention is indicated in cases of thyroid cancer and some tumors in the larynx and neck.

DESCRIPTION:

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia through a transversal incision at the base of the neck. It usually lasts about 90 minutes and requires no more than 72 hours of hospitalization.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients probably have some minor pain after surgery because of the posture during surgery that progressively disappears.

Patients to get up and walk on the day after surgery but they have to wait about 3 or 4 weeks to fully recover.

It is recommended to check the calcium and hormonal levels in your blood after surgery because sometimes there are disarranges. Patients also have to avoid the sun to prevent dark marks on the scar.