General surgery in Turkey, Prices of Istanbul Clinics 2024

General surgery: What is it?

The general surgeon is a specialist in surgical procedures that affect a wide range of organs, including the abdomen, thorax and surrounding tissues.

He treats a wide range of pathologies, including:

• Digestive disorders (hemorrhoids, hernias, inflammatory bowel disease).
• Vascular diseases (varicose veins, aneurysms).
• Endocrine disorders (goiter).
• Trauma.
• Burns and tumors (benign or malignant).

He provides comprehensive patient care, combining medical and surgical procedures. He plays an integral role in the initial and ongoing care of patients requiring surgery.

Symptoms to look for

The symptoms of a condition that requires surgery can vary greatly from person to person, depending on the organ involved and the severity of the condition. However, certain warning signs are common and deserve special attention, such as

• Abdominal pain: Often the first sign of a problem, it can be acute, chronic, localized, or diffuse.
• Nausea and vomiting: Common with bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, or appendicitis.
•  Unexplained weight loss: a warning sign that may point to a diagnosis of cancer or Crohn's disease/ulcerative colitis.
• Fever: Often associated with an infection, such as appendicitis or peritonitis.
• Jaundice: Jaundice of the skin and eyes due to a liver or bile problem.
• Constipation or diarrhea: Disturbed bowel movements may be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.
• Digestive bleeding: Blood in the stool or vomiting blood.

General surgery applications

Many medical conditions can require surgical intervention. Here are some common examples:

• Digestive system: Appendicitis, hernias, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis),cancers of the colon, rectum and stomach.
• Liver and biliary tract: gallstones, liver cancer, cirrhosis.
• Pancreas: Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer.
• Thyroid: Goiter, thyroid nodules, cancers.
• Abdominal Wall: Hernia, ventrations.
• Blood Vessels: Aneurysms, varicose veins.

This list is not exhaustive, and other conditions may require surgery. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Minimally invasive surgery: A revolution

Forget large incisions and long recovery times! Minimally invasive surgery offers a gentler, faster approach to treating many conditions.

Using miniature instruments and a high-definition camera inserted through small incisions, surgeons can perform complex procedures with unparalleled precision.

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are many:

• Less pain and trauma: Small incisions significantly reduce postoperative pain and speed healing.
• Discreet scars: Scars are much smaller and less visible than with traditional surgery.
• Faster recovery: Patients can return to their daily activities sooner.
• Shorter hospital stay: The length of hospital stay is often significantly reduced.
• Minimized complications: The risk of infection, bleeding, and other complications is greatly reduced.

Because of these many benefits, minimally invasive surgery has become the method of choice for many surgical procedures.

Preparation for general surgery

A period of preparation is essential before any surgical procedure. This includes a detailed preoperative consultation with the surgeon to explain the procedure and its risks and benefits.

Additional tests (blood tests, electrocardiogram, medical imaging) are usually performed to assess the patient's general health. Specific physical preparation may also be required, sometimes including dietary changes, cessation of certain substances (smoking, certain medications),and preoperative fasting.

General Surgery in Turkey

On the day of your surgery in Turkey, you will be met at the clinic and taken to the preparation room. An intravenous catheter will be inserted, and the anesthesiologist will administer the appropriate anesthesia for the surgery:

• General anesthesia: You will be asleep throughout the procedure.
• Local anesthesia: Only the area being operated on is numbed.
• Epidural anesthesia: The anesthetic is administered to the spine.

Duration of surgery

The duration of the procedure varies greatly depending on its complexity. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Length of hospital stay

The length of your hospital stay depends on the type of surgery and your medical condition. It can range from a few hours to several days.

Convalescence and recovery

Convalescence is the period after surgery during which your body recovers. During this time, you will be prescribed pain medication. Special care will be given to the surgical scar.

Finally, you will gradually resume your daily and professional activities.