A general surgeon is part of a surgical team that also includes an anesthesiologist, nurses, and surgical technicians. You’ll talk to the surgeon about the procedure prior to surgery.
- The digestive tract
- The abdomen and its contents
- The skin and soft tissue, including the breasts
- The head and neck,
- The blood vessels and heart
- The endocrine system (hormones and glands)
- Surgical treatment of cancer
- Surgical management of traumatic injuries
- Care of critically ill patients with surgical needs
- Patients see a general surgeon in a wide variety of circumstances. Here are a few of the most common.
Your Doctor Recommends Surgery
If your doctor believes that non-surgical treatments won’t be enough, you may get a referral to a general surgeon. You may need to visit a surgeon when other treatments haven’t worked.
You’re Having a Medical Emergency
Because general surgeons have such broad knowledge, they perform a variety of emergency procedures. You may see a general surgeon if you have appendicitis, a hernia, gallstones, or even a gunshot wound.
