General and Laparoscopic Surgery Department

The General and Laparoscopic Surgery Department at Istishari Arab Hospital is one of the essential departments in the hospital. It includes various surgical subspecialties, in which a variety of simple and complex, open and laparoscopic, elective and emergency surgical procedures are performed.

The surgeons working at Istishari Arab Hospital are highly qualified with subspecialties and long experience, they always follow a collaborative approach in the management of patients, working with physicians from other specialties in the hospital in a multidisciplinary approach, to assure optimal treatment for the patient.

The General Surgery Department is distinguished by the implementation of the latest technologies and updated techniques, along with extensive expertise in surgical procedures. Our surgeons follow the most recent international protocols necessary to achieve favorable outcomes.

• Trauma Surgery
  The greatest responsibility in treating injuries in Palestine lies on general surgery. Some general surgeons obtain advanced training and certification to specialize only in trauma surgery. They must be able to handle all cases that require emergency surgery as they are often the first response team for any critically or seriously injured patient.

• Emergency General Surgery
  General surgeons are usually trained to diagnose acute surgical conditions and to provide emergency general surgery operations. They deal with cases of bleeding, infections, intestinal obstructions and organ perforations.
  For example, gallbladder operation (cholecystectomy) is one of the most common procedures worldwide and is often performed on an appointed time, but it is possible for the gallbladder to become acutely inflamed and require an emergency operation, this is usually performed using laparoscopic (keyhole) techniques.
  Another example is diagnostic laparoscopy for unexplained abdominal pain (pain in the stomach), or laparoscopic (keyhole) operation to remove an inflamed appendix without the need for a surgical incision.

• Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery
  It is a new modality, also called minimally invasive surgery, that relies on using precise techniques and special instruments and devices to perform an operation without making a big incision (cut) in the abdominal wall and muscles. Surgeons usually introduce special camera and instruments through small cuts made on the abdominal wall.
  Laparoscopic surgery is suitable and safe nowadays for most of the operations on the abdominal cavity. It has recently become the gold standard for many operations like removing the gallbladder and appendix, operations for morbid obesity, operations on the adrenal (suprarenal) glands, operations on the gastrointestinal tract and hernia repair. Laparoscopic surgery offers benefits such as a faster recovery of the patient, less postoperative pain, less wound complications, and faster return to work.

• Colorectal Surgery
  General Surgery Department, in cooperation with gastrointestinal unit, manages major and minor colon and rectal diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), polyps, colon cancer, gastrointestinal bleeding, prolapse, hemorrhoids and other common anorectal problems.
  Surgeons use the latest methods and techniques in the management of colorectal diseases, including advanced endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques.

• Breast Surgery
  Breast cancer is a common problem worldwide. General and oncology surgery department at IAH provides specialized counselling and treatment process on a multidisciplinary basis in cooperation with oncology department at IAH.
  Surgeons perform most of the procedures for benign and malignant breast pathologies with consideration of cosmetic and esthetic perspective.

• Endocrine Surgery
  This kind of surgery is directed at treatment of the thyroid gland diseases, parathyroid gland and adrenal problems.
  General Surgery Department provides medical and surgical treatment of the endocrine problems. Surgeons can perform total or partial removal of the thyroid gland when necessary, removal of parathyroid gland and laparoscopic or open removal of the adrenal glands as dictated by the clinical situation.

• Obesity Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)
  One of the new and effective treatments of the morbid obesity, which has gained popularity and has become scientifically proven by its limited efficacy and low complication rates performed by experienced hands.
  Procedures for morbid obesity have great benefits for patients in terms of its ability to treat various diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and others.
  The General Surgery Department at IAH is performing such operations on regular basis. The most common operation is laparoscopic (keyhole) sleeve gastrectomy, where a part of the stomach is removed using special devices. Another procedure is the laparoscopic gastric bypass, where a joint is created between the stomach and part of the small bowel to divert food.

• Oncology Surgery
  IAH has introduced the specialty of oncological surgery. Tumor cases are-discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting that, in addition to surgeons, included medical oncologists, radiologists and pathologists. A collaborative decision is made in patient’s best interest and discussed with the patient.
  Our surgeons are capable of dealing with most tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas, breast, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands as well as skin and soft tissue tumors.

• Skin Procedures
  Specialists in General Surgery perform different types of skin-related surgery, from simply removing a suspicious mole to treating burns, to removing tumors that grow under the skin, such as lipomas and cysts.