Our experienced consultant general surgeons can help diagnose, treat or manage your symptoms in order to improve your quality of life. Here at The Huddersfield Hospital located in the heart of Huddersfield, we offer fast, direct and convenient appointments where the consultant can decide the best route for you and develop a tailor made treatment package.
At The Huddersfield Hospital, leading Consultant General Surgeons provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of abdominal and digestive tract conditions.
Your digestive tract (also known as the gastrointestinal/GI tract) is a series of organs, joined together in a long, hollow tube that runs from the mouth to the anus. Along its length, the GI tract has many different complex parts and processes, all working to help break food down so that it can be more easily absorbed by the body. It also removes waste products of food by expelling them as faeces.
The complexity of the GI tract means that many problems can have similar symptoms, which can sometimes make reaching a diagnosis challenging. Some of the common reasons people visit a Consultant General Surgeon at The Huddersfield Hospital include symptoms like:
Some of the conditions your Consultant will want to rule out if you have any of these symptoms include:
When you meet with them here, they will take a careful look at your medical history and ask you to talk about your symptoms.
They may also carry out a clinical examination of your abdomen and pelvis.
Hernias are usually quite straightforward to diagnose in a consultation, as a visible lump will often be seen where the hernia is. Surface skin lesions may be referred to colleagues in Dermatology, although if it is just under the skin, your Consultant may be able to plan a simple excision to remove it.
The best way to investigate symptoms in the GI tract is with an endoscopy. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light at one end. Depending on your symptoms, you may require a gastroscopy or colonoscopy. If either of these are required, they will be arranged for you at The Huddersfield Hospital at the earliest opportunity.
A gastroscopy is used to examine symptoms in the upper part of the GI tract. The endoscope is introduced into the body through the mouth and moved down the oesophagus, into the stomach and the duodenum (the first part of your small intestine).
A colonoscopy investigates symptoms in the lower part of your GI tract. The endoscope is inserted into the rectum and moved along the large intestine and into the small intestine. Before this examination, you will normally need to have taken a powerful laxative in advance to help clear your bowels. This will be fully explained to you in advance.
The endoscope gives your Consultant an excellent view of the relevant parts of the GI tract, and they will look carefully for any abnormalities, swellings or areas of concern. A small sample of tissue (biopsy) may be taken during this procedure, which will then be sent away for further analysis. If polyps are found, these can often be removed during the endoscopy.
Although neither investigation is painful, they can be uncomfortable, so you will be offered sedation or gas and air (nitrous oxide). If you have sedation, you won’t be able to drive yourself home and will need to arrange somebody to be with you for 12 – 24 hours afterwards.
In addition to endoscopy and biopsy, a number of other investigations can be helpful, including blood tests, MRI scans, CT scans and ultrasounds. Our comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities means that any of these investigations can be easily and quickly arranged for you. On-site radiologists report quickly on these diagnostic scans, so that your Consultant has your results and can formulate the best treatment plan for you sooner.
If you are feeling anxious or concerned about any symptoms, it is important to know that good help is available.
