General and laparoscopic surgery

General surgery and Laparoscopy

General surgery and Laparoscopy by the best surgeons in the UAE

General surgery includes a broad spectrum of specialist surgical procedures. A surgical procedure helps in treating or diagnosing a health condition by modification of body tissues. Unlike specialist surgeries like cardiac surgeries or neurosurgery that require specialization of the specific organs, General surgeons are well-versed in the complete surgical procedure across all basic fields of surgery.

The General Surgeons at University Hospital Sharjah possess a rich pool of knowledge and extensive experience in various diseases and health conditions. After an exhaustive diagnostic process and monitoring the health condition of patients, our surgeons recommend surgery. Our team also explains the whole procedure, associated risks, and aftercare involved with the surgery.

Laparoscopy at UHS

Laparoscopy is a modern procedure that helps in avoiding making large-sized incisions like conventional surgery. A laparoscope is a narrow tool with an inbuilt camera and light at the edge. The surgeons insert the laparoscope by making a tiny incision in the body and monitor the condition through a video monitor. The General surgeons at UHS are well acquainted with sophisticated laparoscopic procedures. They choose to perform them depending upon their feasibility for resolving the health issue.

The scope of General Surgery and Laparoscopy at UHS

As a top General and laparoscopic surgery hospital in the UAE, our specialty comprises initial diagnosis, arranging and executing the surgical procedure, and post-surgical management. The excellence of general surgeons at UHS lies in the deep knowledge of disciplines that are core to general surgery. It includes anatomy, physiology, immunology, trauma, resuscitation, ICU, neoplasia, pathology, metabolism, and more. A big focus of General surgery lies in abdominal concerns such as Hernia, Gallbladder procedures, and stomach and intestinal problems. General surgery also includes other types of surgeries on different body parts for issues like burns.

The expertise of general and laparoscopic surgeons at UHS encompasses-

• The abdomen, its components, and the digestive system
• Skin
• Soft tissues
• Head and Neck
• Blood Vessels
• Endocrine system
• Administering traumatic injuries
• Management of patients in critical care

Procedures and Treatments under General Surgery Care

Many of the conditions treated at our General Surgery Department like:

Rectal Prolapse

Rectal prolapse is a medical condition that happens when the rectum- the bottom end of the intestine, displaces or falls out from its correct position between the pelvis. There are three types of Rectal Prolapse:

• Complete prolapse-When the whole rectum bulges out of the anus.
• Partial prolapse-When a partial area of the rectal lining protrudes from the anus.
• Internal prolapse-When the rectum begins to drop down but does not stick out of the anus.

Rectal prolapse can impact anyone but is more common among older people with a long history of constipation and a frail pelvic floor. Women are more prone to have rectal prolapse than men, especially postmenopausal women. Rectal prolapse among infants could be an indicator of Cystic Fibrosis.

Some of the symptoms include the presence of a red mass during bowel movements, Fecal incontinence, Diarrhea/ Constipation, Discharge of blood or mucus from the rectum, and a full feeling in the rectum after the fecal passing.

The most effective cure for rectal prolapse is surgery. Age, health conditions, and the severity of the prolapse determine the chosen surgical approach. Abdominal and Perineal surgery are two of the most common types of General surgeries to treat rectal prolapse. The experienced general surgery doctors at UHS are experts in conducting prolapse repair surgery with finesse.

Hernia

A hernia happens when an internal organ or fatty tissue bulges out through the weak muscle or tissue wall known as fascia. Hernias generally occur in the gastric cavity in the middle of the chest and hips. The most common types are the inner groin, incisional, outer groin, belly button, and upper belly hernias.

The underlying cause of hernia is the pressure combined with a hole or weak fascia or muscles. It thrusts the organ/ tissues towards the gap or the weak point of muscles and tissues. This weakness could exist by birth, but generally, it happens at a later stage in life due to factors like malnutrition, obesity, or habits like smoking. Some of the common causes of hernia are:

Our expert general surgeons conduct a variety of Surgical and Laparoscopic procedures in Our General Surgery Department to treat several types of hernia such as

1. Epigastric hernia- Materializes when fatty tissues are thrust through the abdomen- above the belly button and below the sternum.

2. Incisional hernia- Materializes because of the weakness of abdominal muscles as a result of an incision made due to some previous stomach surgery.

3. Umbilical hernia- Materializes when some part of the intestine or fatty tissues pushes through the abdomen around the belly button area. The most common occurrence of umbilical hernia is among premature babies. Such hernias usually disappear on their own by the time the child turns

4. They could be more complicated and critical to manage and treat among adults.

• Heavy weight-lifting with unstable and weak stomach muscles
• Severe diarrhoea or constipation
• Incessant coughing or sneezing
• Inguinal hernia- Inguinal hernias occur in the inner groin region when the intestines stick out through one of the two tracts in the lower walls of the abdomen, known as inguinal canals.
• Femoral hernia- Femoral hernias occur in the deeper pathways known as femoral canals. Femoral hernias are lesser common than inguinal hernias and are more probable to occur in women than men. If not healed, they pose a very high risk of complications.
• Ventral hernia- Ventral hernia takes place by an opening in the vertical center of the abdomen muscles. There are three types of ventral hernias:
• Hiatal hernia- It occurs when the upper abdomen bulges through the large muscle responsible for separating the chest and the abdomen.

Cholecystectomy

A cholecystectomy is a procedure to take out the gallbladder. The gallbladder is responsible for collecting and storing the digestive fluid produced by the liver called bile. The imbalance in the chemicals that compose the bile can sometimes lead to the formation of gallstones. Gallstones can be very painful and can cause acute pancreatitis or cholecystitis by disrupting the bile flow and chafe the gallbladder.

Cholecystectomy is the most effective way to get rid of gallbladder-related complications. It is not considered a high-risk or complicated procedure. A surgery doctor prescribes it to cure the following conditions-

• Stones in the bile duct- Cholelithiasis
• Stones in the gallbladder- Cholelithiasis
• Inflammation in the gallbladder- Cholecystitis
• Large polyps in the gallbladder
• Inflammation in the pancreas due to gallstones- Pancreatitis

Some of the symptoms of gallbladder-related concerns are- Severe and spontaneous aches in the abdomen, sickness, a yellow tint in the eyes and skin, etc.

Types of cholecystectomy

At UHS General Surgery Department, we use the following methods for gallbladder removal-

• Open cholecystectomy- It is the conventional technique to remove the gallbladder by making a 5 to 7-inch long cut in the abdomen. Open gallbladder surgery is advisable in case of the severity of the gallbladder-related problem. It is the preferred technique of gallbladder removal in case of complications like obesity, bleeding disorders, the patient being in the last trimester of pregnancy, etc.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy- Also called keyhole surgery, it is the more common technique for gallbladder removal. It is performed by making four small incisions to slip into the laparoscope. It is less painful than open surgery. The recovery is also quicker for patients.

Breast reconstruction surgery

Breast reconstruction surgery helps in reconstructing and reshaping breasts after mastectomy or lumpectomy. Breast reconstruction generally takes place over the course of multiple surgeries. There are a variety of techniques available that use silicone and saline implants to recreate the breast.

The tissues can also be extracted internally from other body parts, like the flap tissue in the lower abdomen. It is possible to perform it immediately after breast cancer surgery or after some time has passed. Depending upon the preference of the patient, both breasts could be reconstructed together, or one could be recreated to match the appearance of the other.

Types of breast reconstruction surgeries

At UHS General Surgery Department, our surgeons are vested with world-class techniques to perform the following types of breast reconstruction surgeries-

Flap reconstruction

Involves extraction of the autologous tissues from the body and using it to create the breast. Surgeons use tissues from the lower abdomen, buttocks, back, or thigh areas for the same.

Implant reconstruction

It involves creating breasts using saline and silicone implants. A surgeon can also combine implants in a combination of body tissues.

Oncoplastic reconstruction after lumpectomy

Oncoplastic reconstruction is performed post-lumpectomy and requires radiation therapy. It implements the breast reduction/ breast lift technique while performing a lumpectomy. It fills in the spaces where lumpectomy has de-shaped the breast, improving the appearance of the breast.

Why choose UHS for General Surgery and Laparoscopy?

UHS holds the stature of being a premier multi-specialty hospital across the GCC with a paramount portfolio of healthcare services. Along with offering a wide range of specialties, UHS provides a gamut of sophisticated general and laparoscopic surgical procedures by experienced general surgeons in Sharjah.