General Surgery

Whether you have an emergency, such as appendicitis, or a problem that's been bothering you for some time, like a hernia, the general surgery team at Luminis Health is in your corner.

Our general surgeons handle dozens of common — and not-so-common — abdominal issues. With minimally invasive techniques and specialized training, Luminis Health is the area leader in compassionate, effective care for both emergency and elective procedures.

What Is General Surgery?

In the past, the term “general surgery" meant just that: various procedures performed by a surgeon who had knowledge of the entire body — head to toe. But with today's high-tech equipment and advanced training, it's more effective to have a team of surgeons who specialize in different areas.

At Luminis Health, general surgery is divided into two distinct categories: acute care and surgical sub-specialties.

Acute-care surgery happens in the emergency department, where our surgeons work on a rotating basis. No matter what time of night or day, there is always a doctor in the hospital ready to perform emergency procedures as needed.

Our surgical sub-specialists each have their own niche, providing the best possible care for each patient. They see people in an office setting and perform scheduled surgeries. Specialties include the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, abdominal wall, thyroid, gallbladder and soft-tissue surgery.

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Why Choose Luminis Health for General Surgery?

Our general surgeons are board certified and world renowned. Luminis Health is a surgical destination, which means people travel from around the country to be seen by our experts.

Here are some other reasons to consider Luminis Health for general surgery.

Our surgeons are specialists. We offer care for a wide variety of abdominal and GI surgeries, and our doctors have board certification in many different areas.
We are a tertiary care center for abdominal wall hernia repair. That means we offer the highest possible level of hospital care. If you've been diagnosed with a hernia, your primary care doctor may refer you to Luminis Health for specialized treatment.
We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. Our doctors are highly trained in robotic surgery. In fact, we have the highest volume of robotic abdominal wall reconstruction surgeries in the state.
We have the highest volume of specialty cases in Maryland. This includes foregut (upper GI tract) surgeries, hernia surgeries and abdominal wall reconstruction. With high volume comes greater expertise and fewer complications.
Many of our acute-care surgeons are also critical-care surgeons. Being board certified in critical care means they have extra training in emergency medicine.

U.S. News names Luminis Health one of the best hospitals in the region in multi…

Types of General Surgery We Offer

Most types of general surgery are performed on the gastrointestinal tract. This includes everything from your thyroid gland and esophagus down to your large intestine. Below is a list of some of the procedures we offer.

Surgery for the upper GI tract, including the esophagus and stomach. This procedure is commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

A procedure to reconstruct the abdominal wall; often used to repair a hernia at the front of the abdomen. The wall may be strengthened with stitches or mesh.

Abdominal wall reconstruction Patient Guide

Surgery to remove the appendix when it's infected (i.e., when you have appendicitis). Appendectomy is a common emergency surgery. It can be performed using laparoscopy or with an open operation.

A surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon (i.e., a section of your large intestine). A colectomy may be needed to treat or prevent diseases such as cancer or diverticulitis.

Removal of a diseased or damaged spleen resulting from certain cancers, blood disorders or an injury that causes it to burst.

Removal of the adrenal gland and any adrenal tumors that lead to excessive hormone production.

Removal of part of the small intestine. Your doctors may recommend a small-bowel resection if you have intestinal blockages, cancer or inflammation from Crohn's disease.

Usually performed if the gallbladder is chronically inflamed.

For emergency treatment of burns, wounds or infection. Soft-tissue surgery is also used to remove dead tissue, masses, lesions and fatty tumors under the skin.

A ventral hernia is when tissues bulge through an opening in your abdominal muscles; an incisional hernia is when it forms at the site of a past surgical incision.

Surgery to repair a hernia in your groin.

Can be done to determine if cancer is present or to remove a known cancer from the thyroid.

Why do we use the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System?

Luminis Health is an early adopter of robotic surgery and we continue to advance minimally invasive techniques to improve outcomes for our patients. To be clear: A robot doesn't perform the surgery. Rather, this revolutionary method allows us to perform precise surgery by using instruments we guide through a console.

It's minimally invasive surgery, meaning our surgeons can perform procedures through tiny incisions. The miniature instruments move like the human hand, but with greater range of motion.

The advantages of the da Vinci Robotic surgical system include:

A shorter hospital stay.
Less pain.
Less blood loss.
Lower risk of infection.
Less scarring.

Da Vinci Robotic Surgery FAQ

What to Expect From General Surgery

Most of our scheduled surgeries are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you go home the same day. Sometimes your doctor will want you to stay in the hospital for overnight observation. For more-complicated surgeries, like a bowel resection, you may stay in the hospital for several days.

Our head of surgery has more than 30 years of experience with advanced laparoscopy and is a pioneer in the field. Our team includes some of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the world.

Your surgery may be done under a general anesthetic (meaning you'll be asleep). Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including what you can eat and drink beforehand.

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