Types of gastrointestinal surgery
Surgical procedure types by gastrointestinal area
We take full advantage of Penn Medicine’s vast network of specialists for your benefit. Few other institutions in the greater Philadelphia region match our team’s depth of expertise and breadth of gastrointestinal surgery offerings. We collaborate with other surgeons, gastroenterologists, or gastrointestinal oncologists (among other specialists) to deliver an elite level of personalized care and the best possible outcome.
Our Bariatric Surgery and Weight Management specialty offers several leading weight-loss surgery options. Surgeons at Penn Medicine perform the most minimally invasive bariatric surgeries in the Philadelphia region. Because every patient is unique, our program offers a full range of bariatric surgical options, ensuring that you receive the bariatric surgery that’s right for you.
All bariatric surgery procedures we perform use a minimally invasive approach with either laparoscopy or robotic surgery. Both surgical approaches offer many benefits, including shorter recovery times and less post-operative pain.
Our board-certified surgeons at the Hernia Center have decades of experience treating both common and complicated hernias of all types. Our collaborative team often performs hernia repair surgery using minimally invasive or robotic techniques, offering multiple recovery benefits.
Our gastrointestinal surgeons are experienced in upper gastrointestinal surgery, treating routine and rare concerns of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Less-invasive techniques (such as tiny incisions and high-tech surgical robots) promote healing and help you get back on your feet quickly. In addition to bariatric surgery and hernia surgery, we offer:
- Esophagus surgery: We perform a very high volume of esophagectomies (esophagus removal surgery), with excellent results. We treat a wide range of esophageal and swallowing disorders, often with less-invasive techniques that shorten your recovery.
- Foregut surgery: We have a wide variety of options to treat stomach and small intestine ailments. Penn is one of few centers along the East Coast to offer gastric stimulation, an advanced type of gastroparesis surgery.
- GERD surgeries: We perform multiple minimally invasive procedures to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These options, such as Nissen fundoplication, are considered a safe, long-term cure for chronic heartburn and acid reflux.
- Surgical nutrition: We deliver nutrition in liquid form directly to the intestine (via a feeding tube) or to the bloodstream (via an IV, called parenteral nutrition). We use the latest advances to perform all types of surgical nutrition procedures with precision and compassion.
Our fellowship-trained colon and rectal surgery specialists expertly treat routine and rare problems of the large intestine (colon, rectum, and anus). Advanced laparoscopic colorectal techniques enable us to protect healthy tissues and preserve more of your body’s natural functions and your quality of life.
Through our Gastrointestinal Cancer Care specialty, Penn Medicine offers elite surgical expertise for all types of cancers affecting the digestive tract. Our GI cancer surgery team includes acclaimed surgeons who specialize in treating certain types of GI cancers, such as esophageal cancer. We perform a high volume of intricate procedures to remove hard-to-treat tumors when other centers can’t.
Penn’s hepatobiliary surgeons perform complicated liver, pancreas, bile duct, and gallbladder surgeries at volumes that rival most institutions in the Philadelphia region. We regularly remove hard-to-treat tumors and handle difficult cases that are referred from other centers. We offer elite expertise and specialized options in:
- Gallbladder surgery: We treat gallbladder cancer as well as complex problems, such as bile duct injuries and severe gallbladder disease.
- Liver and bile duct surgery: We treat all types of liver and bile duct tumors, including primary and metastatic bile duct cancer and liver cancer.
- Pancreas surgery: We treat benign problems like pancreatitis as well as precancerous pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer. Our team features leading experts in technical procedures, such as the Whipple surgery (pancreaticoduodenectomy).
Types of minimally invasive GI surgery
Penn Medicine’s gastrointestinal surgeons have decades of practice performing surgeries using less-invasive techniques. Minimally invasive techniques offer multiple advantages, including the potential of fewer complications and a quicker recovery.
Minimally invasive surgery isn’t right for every situation. We consider several factors (such as your overall health and the details of your problem) before planning the best approach to your procedure. We appropriately choose the least invasive surgery approach that fits your unique needs.
Laparoscopic GI surgery
A surgeon guides sophisticated tools (with a magnified camera at the tip) through tiny incisions and views a magnified picture of the affected area on a computer screen.
Robotic GI surgery
During robotic surgery, a surgeon sits near the operating table and views a magnified, real-time video of the surgery site on a computer. The surgeon directs high-tech robotic arms to make highly precise movements.
Surgeries and procedures we perform
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