Comprehensive Surgical Care
The Four Pillars of My Practice
Laparoscopic Surgery — The Keyhole Revolution
Think of it as performing surgery through a mail slot instead of knocking down the door.
What This Means for You:
Tiny Incisions
Often less than 1cm instead of large cuts — barely visible scars that fade over time
Walk the Same Day
Most patients are up and moving within hours instead of bed rest for a week
Quick Recovery
Back to your desk in 3–4 days instead of 6 weeks of recovery time
Minimal Scarring
Small incisions that fade into invisibility within months
Conditions I Treat with Laparoscopic Surgery:
Gallbladder Stones (Cholecystectomy)
The most common procedure I perform. If gallstones are causing pain, infection, or digestive issues, laparoscopic removal offers fast relief with minimal downtime.
- Surgery time: 30–40 minutes
- Hospital stay: Often same-day discharge
- Recovery: Working within 3–4 days for desk jobs
Hernias
Groin hernias (inguinal), belly button hernias (umbilical), and incisional hernias from previous surgeries can all be repaired laparoscopically with mesh reinforcement.
- Lower recurrence rates (< 2% with mesh)
- Faster return to normal activities
- Less post-operative pain
Appendicitis
Emergency appendix removal through small incisions, reducing infection risk and recovery time.
Diagnostic Laparoscopy
When the cause of abdominal pain is unclear, a diagnostic camera examination can identify issues that imaging might miss.
HPB Surgery — The Specialist Zone
This is the deep end of digestive surgery. The liver, pancreas, and bile ducts don't forgive mistakes.
Here's the truth: Most general surgeons refer these cases out. I take them on.
What HPB Surgery Covers:
Liver Conditions
- Liver Cysts: Simple or complex cysts causing pain or requiring removal
- Liver Abscesses: Infections requiring drainage or surgical intervention
- Liver Tumors: Both benign (hemangiomas, adenomas) and malignant (hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases)
- Liver Resections: Partial removal of liver tissue for tumors or other conditions
Pancreatic Conditions
- Chronic Pancreatitis: Long-term inflammation causing severe pain and digestive issues
- Pancreatic Tumors: Adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, cystic neoplasms
- Pancreatic Cysts: IPMNs, mucinous cysts, pseudocysts requiring monitoring or removal
- Whipple Procedure: Complex surgery for pancreatic head tumors
Bile Duct Conditions
- Bile Duct Stones: Stones lodged beyond where gallbladder surgery can reach
- Bile Duct Strictures: Narrowing causing jaundice and infection
- Cholangiocarcinoma: Bile duct cancer requiring specialized resection
- Bile Duct Injuries: Repair of complications from previous surgeries
Why Experience Matters in HPB Surgery
A liver resection isn't a cookie-cutter procedure. Every patient's anatomy is different. The liver's vascular architecture varies from person to person. With 1,000+ surgeries behind me, I've seen variations that textbooks don't mention.
High-volume HPB surgeons have significantly better outcomes than general surgeons for these procedures. This isn't opinion — it's proven by research.
GI Cancer Surgery — Fighting Smart, Not Just Hard
Cancer treatment isn't about removing everything. It's about removing precisely what needs to go — and saving what can stay.
My Approach to Cancer Surgery:
Complete Tumor Clearance
Removing all cancer tissue with adequate margins while minimizing the surgical footprint
Organ Preservation
Using techniques that preserve as much healthy tissue and organ function as medically safe
Multidisciplinary Care
Close coordination with medical oncologists and radiation oncologists for comprehensive treatment
Cancers I Treat Surgically:
Stomach & Esophageal Cancer
Partial or total gastrectomy, esophagectomy, with lymph node dissection. Coordination with chemotherapy and radiation for optimal outcomes.
Colorectal Cancer
Colon resection, rectal resection, often performed laparoscopically when appropriate. Early-stage cancers have excellent outcomes with timely intervention.
Small Intestine Cancer
Rare but treatable with segmental resection and lymph node removal.
Pancreatic Cancer
Whipple procedure, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy depending on tumor location and stage.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Most GI cancers are highly treatable when caught early. If you have:
- Family history of GI cancers
- Persistent digestive symptoms
- Blood in stool
- Unexplained weight loss
Get screened. Early-stage cancer surgery is far less invasive and has dramatically better outcomes than late-stage intervention.
Endoscopy — Seeing Is Knowing
Sometimes, the best surgery is the one we avoid because we caught the problem early.
Diagnostic Tools:
Gastroscopy (Upper Endoscopy)
A camera examination through your mouth into your esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine.
What We Look For:
- Ulcers and gastritis
- H. pylori infection
- Esophageal varices (enlarged veins)
- Tumors or polyps
- Sources of bleeding
- Barrett's esophagus (pre-cancerous changes)
The Procedure:
- Done under light sedation — you won't remember it
- Takes 15–20 minutes
- Go home the same day
- Can take biopsies during the procedure
Colonoscopy (Lower Endoscopy)
A camera examination through your rectum into your entire colon.
What We Look For:
- Polyps (precancerous growths that can be removed during the procedure)
- Colorectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis)
- Diverticulosis
- Sources of bleeding
Why This Matters:
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Polyps take 5–10 years to become cancer. If we find and remove them during colonoscopy, we've prevented cancer entirely.
The Procedure:
- Done under sedation
- Takes 20–30 minutes
- The prep (day before) is the hardest part
- Polyps can be removed immediately
When to Get Screened:
Age 45+
Everyone should get a baseline colonoscopy, even with no symptoms
Family History
Start screening 10 years before the age of youngest family member diagnosed with GI cancer
Persistent Symptoms
Stomach pain, acid reflux, blood in stool, change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss
Previous Polyps
Follow-up colonoscopy intervals depend on the type and number of polyps found
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your symptoms and explore your treatment options