Surgical excision (removal) is usually sufficient for the treatment of benign (non-cancerous) soft tissue tumors. Malignant (cancerous) soft tissue tumors, or sarcomas, may require radiation therapy or chemotherapy as well as surgery. The tumor is removed along with a margin of surrounding tissue to maximize the chances of eradicating all cancerous cells and preventing recurrence.
» Learn more about excision of benign and malignant soft tumorsPilonidal Cyst
A pilonidal cyst or abscess is a fluid-filled sac like a pimple at the tailbone. Medical treatment involves making an incision so the fluid can drain, known as lancing the abscess. Any hair follicles inside will be removed to minimize the chance of recurrence.
» Learn more about pilonidal cystHernia Repair
A hernia occurs when tissue or part of an organ, usually the intestine, protrudes through the abdominal wall. Hernias do not heal on their own. Among the most common procedures in the U.S., hernia surgery pushes the protruding tissue back into place and repairs the weakened or torn muscle that allowed it to pass through. This alleviates pain and corrects or prevents the occurrence of more serious problems. » Read about laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair, laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.
» Learn more about hernia repairGastric Resection
Gastric resection is performed to remove a part of the stomach that contains malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These growths are most commonly gastric stromal tumors but may also be adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, gastrinomas, or various benign lesions. Gastric resection may be partial (e.g. enucleation, wedge resection and partial gastric resections) or total (gastrectomy). » Read about laparoscopic gastric resection
» Learn more about MammoSitePancreatic Resection
Pancreatic resection removes part or all of the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach that produces enzymes that help digest food and hormones that help regulate blood sugar. It offers the opportunity for a cure for patients with pancreatic cancer, which is often not detected until it is quite advanced. The goal of resection is to remove all traces of cancerous tissue while preserving as much of the pancreas, bile duct and/or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine) as possible. However, in some cases these must be removed, sometimes along with part of the stomach, in an operation called a Whipple procedure.
» Learn more about pancreatic resectionCholecystectomy
The gallbladder produces a liquid that aids digestion in the intestine. Removal of the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, may be recommended when the gallbladder is inflamed, blocked, diseased, cancerous or contains gallstones. » Read about laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
» Learn more about cholecystectomySplenectomy
Located in the upper left abdomen, the spleen helps regulate the composition of the blood circulating through the body and also filters the blood of bacteria and old/damaged particles. Removal of the spleen -- called splenectomy -- is performed to treat a variety of diseases that affect the spleen and, in turn, the blood. Conditions that may require splenectomy are: •Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (IPT) - Low platelet count leading to poor clotting •Hemolytic anemia - Excess breakdown of red blood cells, requiring regular transfusions •Genetic conditions - e.g. spherocytosis, sickle cell disease, thalassemia •Lymphoma and leukemia - Cancers of the immune system •Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) - Excess filtering of platelets, leading to poor clotting •Benign or malignant tumors - Disrupt organ function and may spread cancer cells to the rest of the body (metastasis) •Infarction - Clot blocks blood flow to the spleen •Aneurysm - Enlarged artery at risk of bursting
» Read about laparoscopic splenectomy» Learn more about splenectomy
Adrenalectomy
Adrenalectomy is performed to remove a tumor in one of the adrenal glands, the small, triangle-shaped organs that sit on top of the kidneys in the back of your upper abdomen. The adrenal glands produce several hormones and chemicals, including estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, cortisone, steroids, adrenalin (epinephrine) and norepinephrine. An adrenal tumor may require removal if it is large, suspected or confirmed to be cancerous, or making the gland produce too much of one or more of the above-mentioned substances. Because the adrenal glands are so small, they usually must be removed entirely in order to remove the tumors. » Read about laparoscopic adrenalectomy
» Learn more about adrenalectomyPartial Hepatic Resection Hepatic resection -- removal of part of the liver -- may be recommended to treat emergencies such as an injury or abscess or to remove benign or malignant growths. The area and amount of liver tissue removed depends on the location, size and type of lesion(s). For malignancies, an entire lobe of the liver may be removed to maximize the chance of removing all traces of cancer. Resection can be performed again safely for patients whose cancers recur. » Learn more about partial hepatic resection
Small Bowel Resection
Small bowel resection removes part of the small intestine to treat cancerous, precancerous or benign tumors or polyps; intestinal blocks; bleeding, infection, or ulcers; Crohn's Disease; or other injuries. Under general anesthesia, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of the intestine and stitches the healthy ends together. » Read about laparoscopic small bowel resection For some patients, while the intestine is healing, a procedure called an ostomy may be done. A hole is made in the abdominal wall, and the healthy end of the intestine near the stomach is drawn through it. A drainage bag around the opening collects waste. Ostomies are usually temporary and may be reversed during a second operation, when the small bowel is closed.
» Learn more about small bowel resectionAppendectomy
Appendectomy is the removal of the appendix, a small organ that helps lubricate the colon. Appendectomy may be recommended when the appendix swells (appendicitis) or ruptures (potentially causing infection, abscess, intestinal blockage or sepsis). Symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain and tenderness, elevated temperature, nausea and vomiting. » Read about laparoscopic appendectomy.
» Learn more about appendectomyColon Resection Colectomy Colon resection is the surgical removal of all or part of the colon (the large intestine). The diseased portion is removed through an incision in the abdomen and the healthy ends are reconnected. If the entire colon is removed, the procedure is called a colectomy. » Read about laparoscopic colectomy. For some patients it is necessary to let the colon heal before the ends can be sewn together. In those cases an opening is made in the upper part of the colon through the abdominal wall. A bag fitted around the opening collects waste from the intestine. In most cases the colostomy is only temporary. » Learn more about colectomy
Rectal Surgery Rectal surgery may be recommended to treat a variety of problems affecting the anus, rectum and/or colon (large intestine). These include cancer, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, incontinence (loss of bowel control), prolapse (sagging of organs), hemorrhoids, fissures and fistulas. Our surgeons aim to preserve the anus and rectum whenever possible. » Learn more about rectal surgery
Infusaport®
Placement An Infusaport® is implanted under the skin of the chest and connected to a vein to allow doctors to easily inject medications, give blood transfusions, or take blood samples during long-term treatment. Implantation involves a small incision near the collarbone, where a small tube is placed in the neck vein. The surgeon makes a second incision a few inches lower and creates a pocket where the Infusaport® reservoir (the part that receives the injections) rests just below the skin. He then feeds a catheter (small rubber tube) under the skin to connect the port to the vein. The incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures.
» Learn more about Infusaport® placementPeritoneal Dialysis Catheter Placement
A peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter is a rubber tube surgically implanted in the abdomen to make frequent PD treatments easier on patients. With one end in the abdomen and the other end protruding through the skin, the PD catheter allows dialysis solutions to flow in and out of the body without the need for new injection sites before each session. The catheter is placed in the abdomen under general anesthesia using mini-laparotomy, wire-guided insertion, or laparoscopic techniques.
» Learn more about peritoneal dialysis catheter placementThyroid Surgery
Located in the neck under the voice box, the thyroid gland helps regulate the body's metabolism. Growths and other diseases in the thyroid can cause the gland to produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism); if the growth is cancerous, it can spread to other parts of the body. Surgery may be recommended to remove adenomas or cancers in the thyroid or to remove the entire gland.
» Learn more about thyroid surgery