Sauk Prairie Healthcare's board-certified General Surgeons have specialized
skills and knowledge to diagnose, treat, and manage a broad range of conditions.
General surgical treatments address problems of the digestive system,
thyroid and parathyroid, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract, esophagus,
liver, stomach, large and small bowel, rectum, pancreas, spleen, and abnormalities
of the breast.
Our General Surgeons also perform upper and lower endoscopy, laparoscopic
surgery, hernia repair and anti-reflux (hiatus hernia) surgery.
A common symptom of GERD is an ongoing struggle with heartburn, a burning
or discomfort that can start at your stomach and move to your abdomen
or chest, and even up into your throat. Needing over-the-counter medications
for heartburn more than twice a week is often a red flag for GERD.
Over time, GERD can lead to chronic inflammation in your esophagus, resulting
in other health complications. Sometimes GERD can be managed with lifestyle
changes and over-the-counter medications. For some people, stronger medication
or surgery is needed to treat GERD.
A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot
in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. Hernias are
caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle
or fascia. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth, but most
often, the weakness occurs later in life. Surgery is the only option to
completely repair a hernia. Sometimes laparoscopic surgery is used to
repair a hernia with just three small incisions. The type of procedure
that’s best for you will depend on the type of hernia, your age,
and surgical history.
A screening colonoscopy and clearing the colon of polyps is the most effective
way to prevent colorectal cancer. This can reduce your chances of colorectal
cancer by up to 90%. Colonoscopy is a procedure to examine the lining
of your colon, or large bowel. A narrow flexible tube with a tiny light
and camera at the end is gently inserted and advanced through the colon.
Your surgeon may also remove polyps, take a biopsy, or cauterize a bleeding
vessel if indicated.
