General surgery
Surgery is a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of surgical diseases, malformations, injuries and their further consequences.
What is general surgery?
A general surgeon performs a wide range of surgery. The specialty includes all diseases, injuries and malformations affecting the musculoskeletal system, blood vessels, chest area and internal organs.
This can include:
- Haemorrhoids
- Inguinal hernias
- Varicose veins
- Goitres
General surgeons are responsible for the surgery itself, as well as the patient’s non-surgical primary and emergency care.
Surgical treatment is the focus of this care, i.e., a cure by means of an invasive intervention (an operation), though in many cases a non-invasive (non-surgical) option may also be possible.
An operation is defined as an instrumental surgical intervention on or within the patient’s body for diagnostic or treatment purposes. This is usually carried out under anaesthetic. Wherever possible and when it makes sense, minimally invasive techniques are used.
What is minimally invasive surgery?
The difference between minimally invasive surgery and conventional surgery comes down to access: minimally invasive surgery uses specialist instruments and techniques to reach the affected area with an endoscope. Minimally invasive surgery is an umbrella term encompassing several different surgical techniques using small incisions through which an endoscope is inserted with specialist instruments so that the operation can be carried out via a video camera.
Benefits include:
- Small incisions
- Reduced pain levels compared to conventional operations
- Minimises scarring, improving aesthetic results
- Shorter recovery times, quicker return to work
- Reduced risk of adhesions or scars reopening
Disadvantages include:
- Longer operations
- Expensive
- No 3D vision
- Additional incision required to remove resected tissue
- Limited radicality
Applications and approaches
Significant advances in minimally invasive surgery have led to it becoming increasingly popular in recent years. However, it requires more technology and is more difficult for surgeons than conventional surgery – surgeons require specialised skills to operate the necessary surgical instruments: a good sense of space and good coordination, for example.
Most interventions are carried out using specific optical lenses and instruments inserted into different parts of the body, such as through the abdominal wall. Carbon dioxide is pumped into the abdominal cavity to create sufficient room for the intervention during laparoscopic surgery. Increasing space at the operation site and targeting the lighting provides optimum conditions for the surgeon to get a good view during surgery. Thanks to technical advancements, laparoscopic procedures can now be used to treat many diseases and orthopaedic issues.
Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more and more popular due to the constant evolution of the technology and instruments used. We are able to provide the whole range of general surgery; here are some examples of the procedures we are able to offer as minimally invasive surgery:
- Inguinal hernia operations
- Hiatal hernia and anti-reflux surgery
- Bowel surgery (e.g., diverticular disease)
- Diagnostic abdominal surgery and specific tissue biopsies from a range of organs
- Gall bladder surgery
- Incisional and abdominal hernias
- Appendectomy (appendix removal)
- Thoracic surgery
- Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
- Splenectomy (spleen removal)
Surgery is used as a treatment across several medical disciplines and the specialty of ‘general surgery’ is evolving, with a growing tendency towards further specialism. For example, abdominal surgery is now often performed by organ specialists or visceral surgeons despite being a part of general surgery. Our surgeons very often have an additional specialism.
Disciplines related to general surgery:
Some conditions require interdisciplinary treatment.
Interdisciplinary patient management and treatment are of growing significance in hospitals, improving care for patients. Swiss Medical Network is setting up multidisciplinary Centres of Excellence with a focus on bringing together different specialties or units to diagnose and treat groups of conditions. In our centres, medical specialists work together in a specific area and all treatments are discussed on a regular basis within our interdisciplinary tumour board. Surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists all collaborate to pinpoint the best possible treatment or surgery plan for each individual patient. They will then take the time to discuss your full treatment plan and answer any questions you may have.
The following Centres of Excellence are part of our network:
- Centre du Sein (breast centre)
- Neurocentre
Aftercare: you’re not alone
After treatment, you will go back to your routine and be monitored by your doctor: both of you will have our full support. We will do whatever it takes to achieve long-term treatment success for you. That is why we test for possible after effects and side effects. Your aftercare plan will be tailored to meet your needs, just like your treatment. You will occasionally need to see specialists and physiotherapists for consultations and check-ups.
Interdisciplinary cooperation
Interdisciplinary treatment and therapy of diseases are becoming increasingly important in hospitals for the benefit of optimal patient care.
At Swiss Medical Network, our competence centres have been created for this purpose. The competence centres are an interplay of different specialties or units for the diagnosis and treatment of a group of diseases (multidisciplinarity). Medical specialists work together in a specific field of activity.
We regularly discuss all treatments in our interdisciplinary tumour board. Surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists propose the best possible therapy and operation plan for each patient individually. We then discuss the entire therapy concept with you in detail and answer all your questions.
You can find the following centres of competence at our clinic:
- Centre du Sein (breast centre)
- Neurocentre
