Surgery may be used to remove a cancerous or noncancerous growth or damaged part of the body, such as the intestine. It may also be used to repair a problem like a hernia (a hole or weak spot in the wall of the abdomen). Minor surgical procedures are used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system.

These are some gastrointestinal conditions that may be treated with surgery:

• When the appendix becomes infected and inflamed, it may be removed (appendectomy).
• Colon cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers.Surgery is done to remove cancerous tumors in the digestive system and parts of the digestive system that have cancer. For example, a surgeon may remove a tumor as well as part of the pancreas, liver, or intestine with cancer.
• Diverticular disease.A diverticulum is a small pouch or pocket in the colon (large intestine). Sometimes they can become inflamed and cause pain. This is often managed without surgery. If someone has a lot of diverticula that often become inflamed, the doctor may recommend bowel resection surgery to remove that part of the intestine.
• Gallbladder disease.When there is a problem with the gallbladder usually gallstones the gallbladder can be removed. Surgery to remove the gallbladder is also called a cholecystectomy.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernias.GERD, or acid reflux is when the acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus (food pipe) and causes heartburn. Sometimes it happens because of a hiatal hernia. This is when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. A surgeon can do a surgery called fundoplication to fix it. The surgeon will fix the hernia if there is one and then wrap the top of the stomach around the bottom of the esophagus to strengthen the sphincter, which keeps acid out.
• A hernia is when a part of the body (like intestine) comes through a hole or weak spot in the wall of muscle or connective tissue that’s supposed to protect it (like abdomen). It doesn’t come through the skin, but a bulge may be felt under the skin that’s not supposed to be there. Then gastrointestinal surgeons repair the hole or weak spot
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).With inflammatory bowel disease, the immune system attacks the intestines and causes pain and inflammation. This can lead to damage in the intestine. Sometimes the damaged parts are removed and the healthy parts are reconnected. This is called bowel resection.
• Rectal prolapse.Surgery is used to treat rectal prolapse, a condition in which part of the intestine comes through the anus. Surgery comes with some risks, including:
• Anytime the body is opened up, infections can get in. Surgeons are very careful about keeping things sterile and clean during surgery, but sometimes there is a chance of infection.
• Depending on the surgery, there may be soreness and pain during recovery.
• Bleeding and blood clots.Sometimes cuts from surgery continue to bleed, which can make recovery take longer. Sometimes the body forms a blood clot where the surgery was done, and the clot blocks an important blood vessel to the lungs, heart, or brain.
• Damage to another body part.A healthy body part can be accidentally damaged during surgery.
• Reaction to anesthesia.Some people don’t react well to anesthesia and may have nausea and vomiting.

Benefits

Surgery to remove a tumor or diseased body part, or repair damage, can be lifesaving. Surgery can also improve the quality of life for someone who has not benefited from other treatments, like medicine or diet changes. Colonoscopy is a minor surgical procedure with big benefits: it can catch colon cancer early enough to cure it. It’s important to get the recommended colon cancer screening

How is it done or administered ?

Most surgery is done by cutting into the body with a scalpel (a small knife) and other tools. Some surgery is done with a scope — a thin tube with a camera and small surgery tools — to remove growths in the colon, for example.

Surgery done by cutting into the body can be either open surgery or minimally invasive surgery.

Open surgery:The surgeon makes one large cut to open up the body.

Minimally invasive surgery or laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon makes a few small cuts and uses a camera to see inside the body. The surgeon inserts the camera in one cut and surgical instruments in other cuts. These smaller cuts usually heal faster than the large cut of open surgery.