General Surgery - Otago | Southern

Public Service, General Surgery

Description

General Surgery is a surgical service that focuses on the abdominal organs e.g. intestines including the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and thyroid gland. General surgeons also deal with diseases involving the skin, breast and hernias. The General Surgery service also includes plastic surgery which is concerned with correction or restoration of form and function. It includes reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery and the treatment of burns.

Consultants

Note: Please note below that some people are not available at all locations.

Mr Andrew Audeau

General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Dunstan Hospital, Clyde
Mr Tom Elliott

General and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital
Mr Mark Grant

General Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Southland Hospital, Invercargill, Dunstan Hospital, Clyde
Mr James Haddow

General and Colorectal Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital
Dr Michael Hunter

Intensive Care Specialist and General Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital
Dr Jolanta Krysa

General and Vascular Surgeon - Clinical Director

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Southland Hospital, Invercargill
Mr Michael Landmann

General and Breast Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Dunstan Hospital, Clyde
Mr Graeme Millar

General and Breast Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Clutha Health First, Balclutha
Dr Simone Petrich

General & Breast Surgeon

Available at all locations.
Mr Jonathan Potter

General and Colorectal Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Ōamaru Hospital
Associate Professor Mark Thompson-Fawcett

General and Colorectal Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital
Dr John Woodfield

General Surgeon

Available at Dunedin Hospital, Dunstan Hospital, Clyde

Procedures / Treatments

Skin Disorders

Skin conditions dealt with by general surgery include lumps, tumours and other lesions of the skin and underlying tissues. These are often fairly simple conditions that can be dealt with by performing minor operations under local anaesthetic (the area of skin being treated is numbed). Often these procedures are performed as outpatient or day case procedures.

Endocrine Disorders

Abnormalities of the endocrine system treated by general surgery include disorders of the pancreas and adrenal glands in the abdomen and the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the neck. These are often very complex conditions requiring extensive investigations. If surgery is required it is often quite complicated and will usually mean a stay in hospital for several days or even longer.

Breast Disorders

General surgery covers breast diseases including breast cancer. These conditions are often initially dealt with in a specialised breast clinic which is able to perform a number of investigations (e.g. mammography, ultrasound, needle biopsy) during the initial outpatient clinic visit.

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. Haemorrhoids are a condition where the veins under the lining of the anus are congested and enlarged. Less severe haemorrhoids can be managed with simple treatments such as injection or banding which can be performed in the clinic while larger ones will require surgery.

Haemorrhoids are a condition where the veins under the lining of the anus are congested and enlarged. Less severe haemorrhoids can be managed with simple treatments such as injection or banding which can be performed in the clinic while larger ones will require surgery.

Salivary Gland Disorders

Disorders of the salivary glands may be dealt with by the general surgical department or the ENT (ORL) department depending on the local policy.

Gallstones

General surgery covers some disorders of the liver and biliary system. The most common of these is pain caused by gallstones. These are formed if the gallbladder is not working properly, and the standard treatment is to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). This procedure is usually performed using a laparoscopic (keyhole) approach.

Hernias

A hernia exists where part of the abdominal wall is weakened, and the contents of the abdomen push through to the outside. This is most commonly seen in the groin area but can occur in other places. Surgical treatment is usually quite straightforward and involves returning the abdominal contents to the inside and then reinforcing the abdominal wall in some way.

Vascular Disorders

Vascular (blood vessel) disorders treated by general surgery include varicose veins, blockages and narrowings in the arteries or abnormal swellings of the arteries (aneurysm). The most common of these conditions facing the general surgeon is varicose veins. This occurs when veins in the legs and thighs become enlarged and twisted. This is often caused by the failure of the one-way valve system in the veins, in which case it can be treated surgically by removing the segments of veins containing the malfunctioning valves as well as those veins which are significantly dilated.