Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the United States in women. Multiple surgical procedures are offered to both diagnose and cure disease of the breast. A breast biopsy is a common procedure where a suspicious area is sampled or in some cases completely removed. If a concerning or cancerous lesion is identified it is removed surgically. This can be done either by just removing the area itself or by removing all breast tissue. Lymph nodes may need to be sampled or removed as well depending on the clinical situation. The surgeon and patient meet beforehand to discuss surgical options to decide which the best option for the individual is.

Colon resections are necessary to treat a multitude of disease. Diverticulitis is an infection of the colon that often requires surgery. Colorectal cancer is also treated with surgical resection. Typically the disease portion can be removed and the two ends repaired to restore continuity of the GI tract. Many times this can be done in a minimally invasive manner either with laparoscopy or robot assisted techniques. Protocols are in place to shorten the hospital stay as much as possible. Please see link for more information as well as ERAS quick recovery pathway.

Endoscopy is a procedure where a long flexible camera is used to diagnose a multitude of GI complaints. A colonoscopy can diagnose, treat, and prevent colorectal cancer which is the second most common type of cancer in the US. Upper endoscopy is frequently used to diagnose ulcers, precancerous esophageal lesions, and multiple other pathologies. PH testing is now available which can identify and quantify gastroesophageal reflux disease. Both can be employed to stop or diagnose bleeding from the GI tract. Endoscopy is a safe procedure and is frequently performed at all NWIS locations. For more complete description or information on pH testing note provided links.

Gallbladder disease is common in the United States. This can be due to gallstones or a nonfunctioning chronically inflamed gallbladder. There are no good medical therapies for gallbladder disease. Gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is a frequently performed procedure at NWIS locations. This is typically done in a minimally invasive manner either laparoscopic or robotic assisted. Typically surgery is an outpatient procedure with quick return to daily activities. See link for more information.

A hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall. Hernias are common and occur most frequently in the groin, umbilicus, and at previous surgical incision sites. Typical symptoms are a bulge and discomfort, although presentations can range from completely asymptomatic to life threatening illness. Hernias are typically not a surgical emergency, however they never resolve without surgical intervention. Multiple surgical approaches can be considered for repair including minimally invasive laparoscopic and/or robotic repair. For a more complete description see links provided.