Gastrointestinal surgery is a treatment option available for diseases of areas of the body which involve the digestion system. This can include the esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, stomach, rectum, gallbladder, pancreas, and liver.

Surgery may be used as a means to remove any cancerous or noncancerous growths or damaged areas of the body including the intestine. It can also be used to repair an issue like a hernia which is a hole or weak spot within the wall of the abdomen. There are minor surgical procedures that can be used to screen and diagnose issues in the digestive system as well.

A few of the conditions that gastrointestinal surgery can treat include:

• Appendicitis
• Colon cancer and/or other gastrointestinal cancers
• Diverticular disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Hiatal hernias and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hernia
• Inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Rectal prolapse
• Weight loss

Dr. Alfred Johnson MD offers a wide variety of different gastrointestinal surgeries including:

• Upper gastrointestinal surgery

Upper gastrointestinal surgery can treat routine and rare types of surgeries of the small intestine, stomach, and esophagus. A few of the surgeries we offer with upper gastrointestinal surgery include:

• Bariatric surgery

This is the leading weight-loss surgery that is performed under minimally invasive procedures.

• Esophagus surgery

Esophagectomies is known as esophagus removal surgery, we treat a wide range of esophageal and swallowing disorders with our less-invasive techniques that provide a short recovery time.

• Foregut surgery

Foregut surgery provides a wide variety of options to help treat small intestine and stomach surgery.

• Hernia surgery

Hernia surgery is completed using minimally invasive techniques or through robotic techniques, both provide multiple recovery benefits.

• GERD surgery

Our clinic is known for performing successful gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) surgeries. This safe, long-term cure for chronic heartburn and acid reflux is a specialty of our clinic.

• Surgical nutrition
• Colon and rectal surgery
• Gastrointestinal cancer surgery
• Liver, bile duct, and pancreas surgery
• Minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery
• Minimally invasive surgeries include:
• Laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery
• Gastrointestinal robotic surgery

You may be referred to a gastrointestinal surgeon for any gut-related symptoms or diseases which may include:

• Issues swallowing
• Heartburn
• Stomach pain
• Feeling quite ill to your stomach or consistently throwing up
• Skin has a yellowish ting to it
• Frequent diarrhea
• Ongoing constipation
• Blood within the stool

Starting around the age of 50, individuals with an average risk for rectal or colon cancer will be referred to see a gastrointestinal doctor for routine colonoscopies to routinely check for signs of cancer.

When going to your first appointment with a gastrointestinal doctor, they may recommend you take blood tests and a stool sample before the appointment so they can review the results before the appointment. You may also be going to see a gastrointestinal doctor if you have had previous tests completed like a colonoscopy, endoscopy, or an x-ray of your digestive system. If your gastrointestinal doctor recommends you get one of those tests, they will also provide detailed instructions in advance to ensure you are prepared.

Gastrointestinal disorders that need surgery to be treated include:

• Colorectal cancer
• Gallbladder disease
• Tumors
• Inflammation
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• And many more

Our minimally invasive or laparoscopic procedures allow our gastrointestinal doctors to operate using smaller incisions and a tiny video camera, this provides more benefits for each procedure including:

• Less pain and blood loss
• Smaller scars
• Lower risk of infection
• Shorter stay in the hospital and much faster recovery time

If you have any questions about your stomach pain, please call the caring and compassionate staff at Dr. Alfred Johnson MD. They are there to help get you out of your discomfort. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 240 East 13th Street Merced, CA 95341. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Merced CA, Atwater CA, Winton CA, Bear Creek CA, Planada CA, Le Grand CA, and Athlone CA.