General surgery in Nottingham

General Surgery is a specialised area of medicine involved in diagnosing and treating problems of the abdomen and digestive tract. A doctor who specialises in this field is a Consultant General Surgeon.

Your digestive tract stretches from mouth to anus and is responsible for breaking food down into smaller parts so that it can be absorbed into the body. It is also responsible for removing waste from the body as faeces.

It is an incredibly complex structure, with many different parts, processes, every one of which can have a significant impact on health if it stops working properly. A problem anywhere within the digestive system – whether by disease, dysfunction or damage – can cause worrying symptoms to appear such as abdominal lump, pain or bleeding from the rectum.

If you have any symptoms that are causing you concern, it can be a sensible course of action to see a doctor who is experienced in treating problems within the abdomen and digestive system.

At The Park Hospital, our Consultant General Surgeons provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of abdominal and digestive tract conditions. They would be delighted to help you too.

General Surgery is primarily focused on the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). For simplicity, this can be broken down into:

• Upper GI – Comprises the mouth, oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine
• Lower GI (Colorectal)– Comprises the small intestine, large intestine, anus and rectum
• HBP (Hepato Pancreato Biliary) – Comprises the liver, pancreas and gallbladder

General Surgery also investigates and treats hernias and unexplained ‘lumps and bumps’ in the abdomen.

Common reasons people visit our Consultant General Surgeons for help include:

• Acid reflux – stomach acid passes up the throat and causes heartburn
• Bloating and swelling (distention)
• Blood in vomit
• Blood in your stool – may be visible or hidden (occult)
• Change in bowel habits
• Pain in the upper or lower abdomen
• Lump or bump in the abdomen
• Jaundice (yellow discolouration of skin or urine)

If you have any of these symptoms, you may want to see a doctor for help finding out what is causing them. Some common conditions that can occur in the abdomen and digestive tract include:

• Cancer (oesophageal, bowel, liver, bile duct or pancreatic)
• IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) – both Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis
• Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
• Diverticulitis – inflammation of a small pocket (diverticula) in the lining of the intestine
• Polyps - small fleshy raised areas, some of these could turn into cancer if left untreated for many years)
• Gallstones
• Liver abscess
• GERD/GORD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
• Hernia – incudes Hiatus, Inguinal, Femoral, Umbilical, Incisional and Epigastric hernias. Hernias can cause bowel obstruction
• Haemorrhoids
• Anal Fissures & Fistulas

Our general surgeons are highly experienced in performing hernia repair surgery, with many of them using the da Vinci surgical system, an advanced robotic tool that can offer better outcomes for patients.

Mr Adam Brooks, a consultant general surgeon at The Park Hospital, answers common questions about robotic hernia surgery.

What are the benefits of using the da Vinci robot to perform hernia surgery?

"The main benefits are vision, precision and dexterity. The surgical view is magnified 10 times, allowing us to see structures that are invisible even laparoscopically. The hernia repair can be undertaken precisely with exact placement of the mesh. Movements are finer, providing significantly more operative dexterity, which improves safety and reduces the impact on the incisions we make into your skin, which can in turn reduce postoperative pain."

Does the procedure work differently?

"For groin hernia surgery, which is typically performed laparoscopically, the operation is similar. However, the finer and more precise dissection as well as accurate mesh placement, and the benefits of robotic suturing, make the robotic procedure far better.

"Robotic surgery for larger abdominal wall hernias and incisional hernias is significantly different from open surgery, which is how it has traditionally been performed. The da Vinci allows us to offer minimal access surgery, which brings with it less pain,  more rapid recovery and excellent aesthetic results."

What types of hernia can be treated using this technology?

"All groin hernias and most abdominal wall and incisional hernias can be repaired robotically."

Gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) is one of our most common general surgery procedures and our specialists have a wealth of expertise in the area. We offer the option of robotics-assisted gallbladder surgery, using the da Vinci surgical system.

Mr Adam Brooks, a consultant general surgeon at The Park Hospital, answers common questions about robotic gallbladder removal surgery, also known as a laparoscopic or robotic cholecystectomy.

What are the benefits of robotic gallbladder removal surgery using the da Vinci?

"The precise movements of the instruments and the enhanced magnification of the surgical view improve the safety of the operation, whilst the ability to deploy fluorescent imaging helps identify critical structures.

"I would always use the robot now to perform cases where I would previously have used laparoscopic surgery. And I am also able to undertake many more cases robotically (and therefore minimally invasively) that I would not previously have been able to do laparoscopically."

Does the procedure work differently?

"The technique to remove a gallbladder using the da Vinci is a very similar operation to laparoscopic surgery, however the robot gives us the ability to complete the procedure in a more controlled environment, with better vision, dexterity and precision."

Given the complexity of the GI tract and the overlapping symptoms for many conditions, an accurate diagnosis is vital to making sure you receive the most appropriate treatment.

When you first meet with your consultant at The Park Hospital, they will take a detailed medical history and will discuss your symptoms with you. They will want to know things like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did these symptoms first appear?
• Have your symptoms been getting worse?
• Do you have any pain in the abdomen? If so, can you describe it?
• Does anything (food, movement etc.) make your symptoms worse?

A physical examination may also be carried out.

Hernias are often quite straightforward to diagnose, as a lump will be visible where the hernia is. If a skin lesion is just under the skin, a surface excision can be planned to remove it. For more extensive lesions, we may refer you to our colleagues in dermatology.

Many potential problems within the GI tract are most easily investigated with an endoscopy. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light at one end. The camera transmits a live feed to an external monitor.

Depending on where you’re experiencing your symptoms, you may need to have a Gastroscopy or Colonoscopy to investigate. If any of these are required, they will be arranged for you at The Park Hospital at the earliest opportunity.

• A gastroscopy is used to examine 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 then to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).

• A colonoscopy looks at the lower part of the GI tract. The endoscope is inserted into the rectum and moved along the large intestine and into the small intestine.

With both of these endoscopic investigations, your consultant is able to check the inside of the GI tract for any abnormalities such as swellings, bumps or narrowed sections of the GI tract.

If they see an area that warrants further investigation, they may take a biopsy. This involves removing a small sample of tissue which is then sent for examination under a microscope

Additional investigations can also be helpful for some conditions, including CT, MRI, ultrasound and X-ray. These can all be very easily arranged for you at the hospital

Once any results are back, your consultant will formulate up a personalised treatment plan for your condition and discuss it with you. Treatment may involve:

• Watchful waiting
• Medication
• Surgery

If surgery is required, whether minor or more involved, this will be arranged for you at the earliest opportunity. The Consultant General Surgeons at The Park Hospital provide a range of surgical options, including laparoscopic (keyhole) repair of hernias and surgery for the gall bladder.

Our on-site Critical Care facilities mean that surgery of all types, including the extremely complex, can be safely carried out at the hospital. 

Based in a leafy woodland area just outside Nottingham, we see people across Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties for their digestive and abdominal concerns.

Many people are referred directly to us by their GP, another consultant or their private medical insurance provider. Others self-refer to avoid delay.

We treat private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

When you choose to visit the The Park Hospital in Nottingham for your General Surgery consultation, you will benefit from:

• Rapid assessment – Many abdominal symptoms can be concerning to experience, and you’ll want to get help as soon as possible. We can easily and quickly book you an appointment with an experienced Consultant General Surgeon. By getting an earlier assessment and diagnosis, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of any treatment needed sooner.
• Fast diagnostic turnaround time – On-site radiologists report on any scans promptly so that your consultant has the results back and can start planning your treatment as soon as possible.
• Treatment from an expert – Leading Consultant General Surgeons work on-site, providing treatment for the full range of conditions. Advanced laparoscopic surgery can also be carried out in the hospital by highly experienced surgeons.
• Personalised care – General Surgery requires a bespoke approach to treatment. Your consultant will tailor any treatment plan to your requirements and what is best for you.
• Multidisciplinary team – your consultant works closely with specialists in other fields, including dermatology, oncology, plastic surgery, radiology, physiotherapy, anaesthetics…and more! Fast access to this multidisciplinary team ensures you will always see the most appropriate specialist for your particular needs.
• Appointments to suit you – General Surgery appointments are available throughout the week, so you are sure to be able to book an appointment without delay. Remote consultations are also available by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
• Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 98.4% of patients said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to family and friends.

If you live in or around Nottingham and are worried about abdominal or digestive concerns, we believe that you will find no better place to come for assessment, diagnosis and treatment than The Park Hospital.

With highly experienced consultant, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and members of our multidisciplinary team readily available at any time, we can make sure that you get expert help sooner. We look forward to welcoming you to our hospital soon.