Gastrointestinal surgery

The field of gastrointestinal surgery includes several common cancers, such as stomach, pancreatic, and colon cancers. Within the specialty, a few diseases are also treated non-surgically, such as pancreatitis.

There are some diseases that are often treated in collaboration with gastrointestinal surgeons and gastroenterologists, including reflux disease, gastric ulceration, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Most patients are referred to us from an emergency unit as a result of an acute gastrointestinal problem. Other major patient groups include patients with gastrointestinal tract cancers, biliary problems or hernias, and patients with appointments for various endoscopic procedures.

Appendicitis and cholecystitis are typical examples of gastrointestinal emergencies requiring surgery. Intestinal obstructions, intestinal perforations, and strangulated hernias are also among the common surgical emergencies. Acute pancreatitis and various types of abdominal trauma are also common in emergency patients.

We examine and treat basic-level gastrointestinal surgery patients in the Helsinki metropolitan area at Meilahti Tower Hospital and the Jorvi and Peijas hospitals. Elsewhere in the Uusimaa region, there are gastrointestinal surgery units at the hospitals in Lohja, Hyvinkää, Porvoo, and Raseborg.

The most demanding gastrointestinal surgery, such as major cancer surgery, has been centralized at our Abdominal Center units. The Abdominal Center is also responsible for surgical treatment and intensive care of patients with severe pancreatitis, as well as for robotic surgery in the abdominal area. The Abdominal Center’s gastrointestinal surgery and endoscopy division is also known for its various challenging endoscopic procedures.