GENERAL SURGERY

General surgery is a surgical discipline that involves the treatment of systemic and local problems in the body through surgical methods. It encompasses general principles such as wound healing, metabolic and endocrine responses to injury, and has influenced the development of many surgical and basic medical fields.

The word “surgery” is derived from the Latin term “chirurgiae,” which means “handiwork.” Surgery is one of the oldest branches of medicine and involves the repair of diseases, injuries, and structural abnormalities in the body that cannot be cured with medication or other treatment methods. This is achieved through surgical procedures, which may involve repairing or removing diseased organs to restore them to their natural and functional state.

General surgery encompasses a wide range of surgical procedures, most of which are named after the organ or the system they are related to. Procedures such as thyroidectomy (thyroid gland), mastectomy (breast), esophagectomy (esophagus), gastrectomy (stomach), small bowel surgery, colorectal surgery, rectal surgery, anal surgery, hernia repair, liver surgery, gallbladder surgery, bile duct surgery, as well as endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical interventions, fall within the scope of general surgery. When categorized according to systems, general surgery includes thyroid surgeries, breast surgeries, esophageal surgeries, stomach surgeries, duodenal surgeries, small bowel surgeries, colorectal surgeries, rectal and anal region surgeries, liver surgeries, and hernia surgeries. General surgery not only focuses on surgical interventions but also aims to prevent the need for surgery through preventive medicine in some cases.

Due to the broad scope of general surgery, the General Surgery Department collaborates and works in coordination with various disciplines. A significant portion of general surgery patients consists of different types of cancer cases. For these patients, the diagnosis, surgical procedures, and subsequent treatment stages are planned in collaboration with disciplines such as Gastroenterology, Radiology/Interventional Radiology, Pathology, Medical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology.

Another area of interest in general surgery is traumatology. In cases of trauma patients, where multiple organ system injuries are often present, general surgery works in conjunction with departments such as Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Urology, and Cardiovascular Surgery. Especially in severe multiple organ injuries, the General Surgery Department takes the coordination of all these medical specialties.

The divisions of general surgery based on the diseases to be treated are as follows:

• Gastrointestinal System
• Abdominal Surgery
• Digestive System
• Skin and Soft Tissue Surgery
• Breast Diseases
• Endocrine System
• Surgical Oncology
• Surgical Intensive Care
• Traumatology
• Vascular Surgery
• Transplantation Surgery
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Orthopedics and Traumatology
• Bariatric Surgery

The diseases that fall within the scope of General Surgery unit can be listed as follows:

• Thyroid diseases
• Appendicitis
• Pain, swelling, hardness, or discomfort in the breast
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Orthopedic problems (including gangrene)
• Hemorrhoids
• Ingrown hairs
• Small and large intestine problems
• Liver problems
• Stomach problems
• Skin problems (skin tags, sebaceous cysts)
• Presence of blood in stools
• Abdominal pain
• Chronic recurring diarrhea and constipation
• Pain and pressure sensation under the right rib, extending to the right shoulder area
• Pain and swelling in the umbilical region and surroundings
• Groin pain and swelling
• Emergency cases
• Injuries and traumas due to accidents
• Pain and discomfort in the gallbladder area
• Pancreatic problems
• Cysts
• Removal of moles on the skin’s surface”