A Brief Overview of Gastrointestinal Surgery

 The organs of the human body involved in digestion include the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestine (colon), and rectum. All these together are known as the digestive system. Gastrointestinal surgical procedures, therefore, are performed to treat conditions that affect the aforementioned parts. Gastrointestinal surgery is of two types - open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Read on as we share four things about gastrointestinal surgery you should know.

Conditions that Require GI Surgery

There is a wide range of gastrointestinal and abdominal related conditions that may require GI surgery. Here below is a list of some of them.

  • Peptic ulcer disease

  • Hiatal hernia

  • Infectious disease of the colon and rectum

  • Reflux esophagitis and its complications

  • Barrett’s oesophagus

  • Radiation bowel injury

  • Primary neoplasms of the stomach, small bowel, colon, and rectum

  • Inflammatory bowel disease

  • Gastrointestinal tumours

  • Liver tumours

  • Diseases of the biliary tract

  • Diseases of the pancreas

Benefits of Gastrointestinal Surgery

GI surgery, depending on the condition it is performed for, helps correct any problems related to the digestive system. When non-surgical treatments tend to show little or no effects, surgical surgery may be the best way forward. GI surgery, as we mentioned previously, is categorised as open and minimally invasive. While open GI surgery involves surgical incisions and stitches, a minimally invasive procedure does not involve large surgical incisions and the recovery period is shorter. A few more notable benefits of minimally invasive GI surgery:


  • Post-surgery pain medication is less.

  • Patients can resume normal activities sooner than open surgeries.

  • Fewer side effects and post-surgical complications. 

  • Patients face less stress and less trauma during and after the procedure.

Cost-Effectiveness

Although minimally invasive procedures such as laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries may seem expensive compared to open surgeries, the bigger picture looks better. With minimally invasive surgeries, patients need not spend long periods in intensive care units, followed with a shorter recovery period, and very low chances of readmission. Minimally invasive procedures, on the whole, are cost-effective when compared to open surgeries.

Closing Thoughts

Be it minimally invasive procedures or open surgeries, both are recommended to treat a myriad of conditions. Minimally invasive procedures, owing to their hassle-free nature and high rate of success, have become a popular option nowadays. If you or a loved one are looking for GI surgery in Dallas, Texas, reach out to a reputable general surgeon offering minimally invasive GI surgeries such as anti-reflux surgery.

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