The role of the General Surgeon is to see, assess and treat patients who have specific pathologies such as abdominal hernia, phimosis (tight foreskin), scrotal swellings and a variety of ‘lumps and bumps’.  Referral may also be made with a request for a specific procedure such as vasectomy or vasectomy reversal.

In addition, patients may be referred when their symptom pattern is non-specific and requires investigation (abdominal pain, change in bowel habit) and may have cholelithiasis (gallstones), peptic ulcer disease, diverticular disease or cancer.

After general surgical consultation and investigation as appropriate, patients may be referred to specialist surgeons in dedicated units dealing with uncommon and particularly difficult conditions that require the input of specialist teams: vascular surgery, urology and certain types of cancer surgery.

Surgery is for conditions that are not treatable by, or have not responded to, non-surgical treatments.  It also helps to prevent or treat complications of a disease or condition.  Surgery may be curative, palliative or a part of a larger treatment plan (adjunctive).  Unfortunately it is not without potential risk and complication.  These include those related to the anaesthetic, haemorrhage and infection.  Specific complications and how common they are can be discussed with your surgeon.