Minimally Invasive General Surgery

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on organs located within and near the abdomen, such as the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, pancreas, and gall bladder.

It also deals with diseases involving the skin, breast, soft tissue, tumours, peripheral vascular disease, and burns.

Most of our general surgeons have their own subspecialties, such as transplant surgery, breast, colorectal, vascular, and hepatobiliary surgery.

Scope of Conditions Treated

Our general surgeons provide expert care across multiple body systems. Conditions treated include:

• Abdomen: Hernias (inguinal, femoral, umbilical), gastrointestinal tumours (GIST, neuroendocrine, retroperitoneal).
• Biliary Tree: Gallstones, bile duct stones, cholecystitis (gall bladder infection), benign biliary strictures, gall bladder polyps, gall bladder and bile duct cancer.
• Breast: Breast cancer, cysts and lumps, infections and abscesses, nipple discharge.
• Colon and Rectum: Colorectal cancer, bowel incontinence, pelvic disorders, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel disease (IBD), anal fissure, fistula, intestinal obstruction, haemorrhoids, per rectal bleeding, ulcerative colitis.
• Endocrine System: Thyroid cancer, nodules and cysts, parathyroid conditions, hyperthyroidism, adrenal nodules.
• Head and Neck: Head and neck cancers, cancers of the ear, nose, throat, metastasised cancers with unknown primary.
• Liver: Liver cancer (HCC), bile duct cancer, metastatic and benign liver tumours, liver abscesses and cysts.
• Lymphatic System: Enlarged lymph nodes, lymphatic obstruction.
• Oesophagus and Stomach: Stomach and oesophagus cancer, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatus hernia, bariatric surgery, peptic ulcers.
• Pancreas and Spleen: Acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cystic tumours, pancreatic and periampullary cancer, splenic cysts and tumours, enlarged spleens.
• Small Intestine: Diverticula, malignant tumours, villous tumours of the duodenum, obstruction, fistulae.
• Vascular Surgery: Aortic aneurysms, diabetic limb salvage, deep venous insufficiency, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins and venous ulcers, arteriovenous malformations, vascular access for dialysis.

Surgery Procedures

General surgeons manage procedures across a broad range of surgical areas, including:

• Gastrointestinal and upper gastrointestinal surgery
• Colon and rectal surgery (colorectal surgery)
• Hepatobiliary surgery involving the liver and gall bladder
• Breast surgery
• Vascular surgery
• Head and neck surgery

The specific procedure is determined based on the patient’s condition and clinical assessment.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our general surgery team uses modern, minimally invasive techniques to perform procedures more safely and efficiently. These approaches help reduce recovery time, minimise pain, and lower the risk of complications compared with traditional open surgery.

• Endoscopic procedures allow surgeons to examine and treat internal organs through natural openings such as the throat or rectum, avoiding large incisions. This method is often used to remove polyps or obtain tissue samples for biopsy.
• Laparoscopic surgery involves small abdominal incisions through which a camera and instruments are inserted to perform operations. It is commonly applied in procedures like appendectomy and gastric bypass surgery, offering faster recovery and less post-operative discomfort.

These advanced techniques provide patients with effective treatment options while supporting a quicker return to daily activities.

When to See a General Surgeon

Patients may need to consult a general surgeon when experiencing symptoms such as unexplained lumps in the body, changes in bowel habits like blood in the stools or constipation, persistent abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, or digestive symptoms that do not improve with initial treatment.

Request an Appointment

Pantai Hospital Laguna Merbok provides comprehensive care for digestive and abdominal health concerns. If you are experiencing persistent symptoms or have questions about your abdominal health, you are encouraged to make an appointment for a thorough assessment.