General Surgery

General surgeons at St. Mary’s Physician Associates specialize in the comprehensive care of surgical patients. The surgeons collaborate with a variety of other specialists to provide you with the care and general surgery procedures you need.

Robotic Surgery

Our surgeons also perform robotic surgery at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Robotic surgery allows doctors to perform complex procedures through smaller incisions than standard surgery. Minimally invasive robotic surgery may mean less pain, scarring, trauma and blood loss than other surgical procedures. Less trauma typically means quicker recovery.

At St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, our surgeons use the da VinciⓇ Surgical System to perform various procedures. Robot-assisted surgery at St. Mary’s results in a shorter hospital stay and less risk of infection or complications occurring. Robotic assistance offers many types of minimally invasive surgery. A patient’s quality of life is improved when there are options for surgery with fewer side effects.

Our surgical expertise includes the management of the most common ailments, including:

Treatment of simple and complex hernias

Hernias typically cause a lump or bulge that may or may not be constant in size. Pain, bulging and swelling are most commonly present and made worse with straining or heavy lifting. Laparoscopic surgery or hernia repair may be necessary depending on the severity.

Treatment of gastrointestinal problems

Conditions such as peptic ulcer disease, colon cancer, anorectal disorders, hemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel disease may require surgical treatment to repair the intestinal tract. Gastrointestinal surgical procedures may also be used for treating cancer.

Bowel resection: all or part of the large or small intestine are removed while the remaining sections are meshed together. A blocked or diseased intestinal tract may result in a bowel resection. Robotic bowel resectioning may halve the recovery time for a patient.

Colon and rectal surgery: hemorrhoids, fissures, abscesses and infections that do not respond to treatment can be candidates for surgery.

Endoscopy: a procedure where a small camera is used to examine and/or biopsy a patient’s organs. The endoscope may be inserted through the patient’s rectum or mouth, depending on the area of examination.

Diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and liver

Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) may be necessary when a patient has gallstones or other forms of gallbladder disease. It’s performed using a laparoscope to see inside of the stomach and remove the gallbladder.

Endocrine problems

Appendectomy: a procedure where the appendix is removed when it becomes swollen and infected (appendicitis). Leaving appendicitis untreated is dangerous because the appendix can potentially burst and leak bacteria to other parts of the body. 

Bladder suspension: a procedure used to reposition a sagging bladder. This procedure is usually done to treat stress incontinence in women. It helps to reposition and support the bladder.

Cryoablation of renal mass: a type of cancer treatment that uses cold temperatures to kill cancer cells in the kidney. It typically uses an instrument called a cryoprobe or liquid nitrogen. Cryoablation may or may not be considered depending on the stage of cancer.

Nephrectomy: This type of procedure can be used to treat kidney cancer in cancer patients, diseases and other injuries. Nephrectomy is also used in kidney transplant surgeries from a donor.

Uterine suspension: a procedure that repairs and repositions an out of place uterus. It’s typically used in cases of vaginal prolapse (weakened pelvic floor muscles) to restore support to the uterus and vagina. Vaginal prolapse can cause other organs to sit differently in the body, which is why it’s important to repair it.

Swallowing disorders

Nissen fundoplication: used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by stitching the upper part of the stomach where it meets the esophagus. It helps prevent acid reflux and the possibility of stomach acid making its way up the esophagus to cause burning.

The health care procedures and services extend further than those listed here.

Contact St. Mary’s Physician Associates for General Surgery Services

The general surgeons at St. Mary’s Physician Associates provide various health care procedures for patients in the Northwest Oklahoma area. View all services provided at St. Mary’s. 

Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery is right for you.