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Mr Sean Liddle - Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric & General Surgeon

Private Service, General Surgery, Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery

Today

Description

Dr ​Sean Liddle  is a New Zealand trained General Surgeon specialising in bariatric, upper gastrointestinal (GI) and minimally invasive surgery, working public practice for Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau and in private practice. 

Born and raised in New Zealand, Dr Liddle did his general surgery training throughout New Zealand. On completing this, he spent a year in Australia specialising in trauma and then three years in Calgary, Canada, specialising in bariatric and upper GI surgery.  Based in Northland, he specialises in both primary and revisional bariatric surgery and also offers non-surgical weight loss treatments. Dr Liddle is experienced in all aspects of oeosphageal and gastric surgery, including acid reflux management, hiatus hernia surgery, motility disorders and malignancy. His areas of expertise also include gastroscopy, gallbladder surgery and complex hernia repair utilising both open and minimally invasive techniques. 

Dr Liddle's areas of expertise include:

  • bariatric surgery
  • anti-reflux surgery
  • other forms of laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal surgery
  • gallbladder surgery
  • laparoscopic or open hernia repairs
  • general surgery
  • gastroscopy

Staff

Practice Manager: Stephanie Anderson
Clinical Nurse Manager: Melissa Liddle

Consultants

How do I access this service?

Referral

A GP or specialist referral is preferred but not an absolute requirement for a consultation with Mr Liddle.

Make an appointment

Ph: (09) 437 3872

Email: info@northlandhw.co.nz

Referral Expectations

When you come to your appointment, your surgeon will ask questions about your illness and examine you to try to determine or confirm the diagnosis. This process may also require a number of tests (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, scans etc). Sometimes this can all be done during one visit, but for some conditions this will take several follow-up appointments. Occasionally some tests are arranged even before your appointment to try to speed up the process.
Once a diagnosis has been made, your surgeon will discuss treatment with you. In some instances this will mean surgery, while other cases can be managed with medication and advice. If surgery is advised, the steps involved in the surgical process and the likely outcome are usually discussed with you at this time.
 
 

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Fees apply

Fees and Charges Description

Dr Liddle is a Southern Cross Healthcare Insurance Affiliated Provider, an NIB first choice member and an ACC accredited provider.

Hours

Mon – Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Office hours are shown.
Mr Liddle consults on Wednesday afternoons and operates Thursdays. (Services available outside these hours by arrangement.)

Procedures / Treatments

Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric or weight loss surgery refers to a number of different procedures that can be performed to treat obesity. Procedures fall into three main types: Malabsorptive - these procedures involve bypassing a section of the small intestine thus reducing the amount of food absorbed into the body. Restrictive - these procedures involve reducing the size of the stomach, usually by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach which limits the amount of food that can be eaten. Malabsorptive/Restrictive Combination - these procedures combine both techniques e.g. gastric bypass surgery in which a small stomach pouch is formed and its outlet connected to part of the small intestine.

Bariatric or weight loss surgery refers to a number of different procedures that can be performed to treat obesity. Procedures fall into three main types:
Malabsorptive - these procedures involve bypassing a section of the small intestine thus reducing the amount of food absorbed into the body.
Restrictive - these procedures involve reducing the size of the stomach, usually by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach which limits the amount of food that can be eaten.
Malabsorptive/Restrictive Combination - these procedures combine both techniques e.g. gastric bypass surgery in which a small stomach pouch is formed and its outlet connected to part of the small intestine.


Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)

GORD is caused by the backflow (reflux) of food and stomach acid into the oesophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) from the stomach. This happens when the valve between the stomach and the lower end of the oesophagus is not working properly. The main symptom of GORD is heartburn (a burning feeling in the stomach and chest). A hiatus hernia is caused by part of the stomach and lower oesophagus bulging through the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle between the chest and the stomach) into the chest. A hiatus hernia can cause a burning feeling in the upper abdomen and chest (heartburn). Laparoscopic Fundiplication is a surgical procedure for GORD that involves wrapping the top part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower end of the oesophagus. The valve between the stomach and the oesophagus is also replaced or repaired. Laparoscopic Hiatus Hernia repair and Fundiplication is a surgical procedure for hiatus hernias that involves reducing the hernia, tightening the diaphragm and wrapping the top part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower end of the oesophagus.

GORD is caused by the backflow (reflux) of food and stomach acid into the oesophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) from the stomach. This happens when the valve between the stomach and the lower end of the oesophagus is not working properly. The main symptom of GORD is heartburn (a burning feeling in the stomach and chest).

A hiatus hernia is caused by part of the stomach and lower oesophagus bulging through the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle between the chest and the stomach) into the chest. A hiatus hernia can cause a burning feeling in the upper abdomen and chest (heartburn).

Laparoscopic Fundiplication is a surgical procedure for GORD that involves wrapping the top part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower end of the oesophagus. The valve between the stomach and the oesophagus is also replaced or repaired.
Laparoscopic Hiatus Hernia repair and Fundiplication is a surgical procedure for hiatus hernias that involves reducing the hernia, tightening the diaphragm and  wrapping the top part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower end of the oesophagus.
Gastrointestinal Disorders

Conditions of the gut dealt with by general surgery include disorders of the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel and anus. These range from complex conditions such as ulceration or cancer in the bowel through to fairly minor conditions such as haemorrhoids. Many of the more major conditions such as bowel cancer will require surgery, or sometimes treatment with medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Conditions of the gut dealt with by general surgery include disorders of the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, large bowel and anus. These range from complex conditions such as ulceration or cancer in the bowel through to fairly minor conditions such as haemorrhoids. Many of the more major conditions such as bowel cancer will require surgery, or sometimes treatment with medication, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

 
Gallstones

The most common disorder of the liver and biliary system is pain caused by gallstones. These are formed when some of the watery fluid (bile) stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. Gallstones may vary from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball and there may be one or hundreds of stones. Gallstones can cause abdominal pain, fever and vomiting if they block the movement of bile into or out of the gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. A laparoscope is inserted into the abdominal cavity at the level of the tummy button. Surgical instruments are inserted through other incisions and the gallbladder removed.

The most common disorder of the liver and biliary system is pain caused by gallstones.
These are formed when some of the watery fluid (bile) stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. Gallstones may vary from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball and there may be one or hundreds of stones.
Gallstones can cause abdominal pain, fever and vomiting if they block the movement of bile into or out of the gallbladder. 

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. A laparoscope is inserted into the abdominal cavity at the level of the tummy button. Surgical instruments are inserted through other incisions and the gallbladder removed.

Hernias

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened and the contents of the abdomen push through to the outside. An inguinal hernia forms when part of the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall, causing a bulge in the groin. Laparoscopic Hernia Repair involves using surgical instruments to push the hernia back into its original position and repairing the weakness in the abdominal wall (or diaphragm in the case of a hiatus hernia). Open Hernia Repair: an abdominal incision is made and the hernia is pushed back into position. The weakness in the abdominal wall is repaired.

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened and the contents of the abdomen push through to the outside.
An inguinal hernia forms when part of the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall, causing a bulge in the groin.

Laparoscopic Hernia Repair involves using surgical instruments to push the hernia back into its original position and repairing the weakness in the abdominal wall (or diaphragm in the case of a hiatus hernia).
Open Hernia Repair: an abdominal incision is made and the hernia is pushed back into position. The weakness in the abdominal wall is repaired.
Gastroscopy

This is a procedure which allows the doctor to see inside your oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) and examine the lining directly. What to expect The gastroscope is a plastic-coated tube about as thick as a ballpoint pen and is flexible. It has a tiny camera attached that sends images to a viewing screen. During the test you will swallow the tube but the back of your throat is sprayed with anaesthetic so you don’t feel this. You will be offered a sedative (medicine that will make you sleepy but is not a general anaesthetic) as well. If the doctor sees any abnormalities they can take a biopsy (a small piece of tissue) to send to the laboratory for testing. This is not a painful procedure and will be performed at the day stay unit in a theatre suite (operating room) by a specialist doctor with nurses assisting. Complications from this procedure are very rare but can occur. They include: o bleeding after a biopsy, if performed o an allergic reaction to the sedative or throat spray o perforation (tearing) of the stomach with the instrument (this is a serious but extremely rare complication). Before the procedure You will be asked not to eat anything from midnight the night before and not to take any of your medications on the day of the procedure. After the procedure You will stay in the day stay unit until the sedation has worn off which usually takes 1-2 hours. You will be given something to eat or drink before you go home. If you have been sedated, you are not to drive until the following day. If biopsies are taken these will be sent for analysis and results are available within 2-3 weeks. A report and copies of these are sent to your GP.

This is a procedure which allows the doctor to see inside your oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum) and examine the lining directly. 

 What to expect
The gastroscope is a plastic-coated tube about as thick as a ballpoint pen and is flexible.  It has a tiny camera attached that sends images to a viewing screen.  During the test you will swallow the tube but the back of your throat is sprayed with anaesthetic so you don’t feel this.  You will be offered a sedative (medicine that will make you sleepy but is not a general anaesthetic) as well.  If the doctor sees any abnormalities they can take a biopsy (a small piece of tissue) to send to the laboratory for testing.
This is not a painful procedure and will be performed at the day stay unit in a theatre suite (operating room) by a specialist doctor with nurses assisting.

 Complications from this procedure are very rare but can occur. They include:

o   bleeding after a biopsy, if performed

o   an allergic reaction to the sedative or throat spray

o   perforation (tearing) of the stomach with the instrument (this is a serious but extremely rare complication).

Before the procedure
You will be asked not to eat anything from midnight the night before and not to take any of your medications on the day of the procedure. 

After the procedure
You will stay in the day stay unit until the sedation has worn off which usually takes 1-2 hours.  You will be given something to eat or drink before you go home.  If you have been sedated, you are not to drive until the following day.

If biopsies are taken these will be sent for analysis and results are available within 2-3 weeks.  A report and copies of these are sent to your GP.

Parking

Free patient parking is available

Pharmacy

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Other

Clinic consultation is available in person and virtually (Zoom).

Contact Details

Email is the best form of contact and will be answered in a timely manner.

Northland Surgical & Endoscopy, 78 Western Hills Drive
Kensington
Whangārei
Northland 0112

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Street Address

Northland Surgical & Endoscopy, 78 Western Hills Drive
Kensington
Whangārei
Northland 0112

Postal Address

Northland Health & Weight
PO Box 8011
Kensington
Whangārei 0145

This page was last updated at 9:47AM on August 13, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Mr Sean Liddle - Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric & General Surgeon.