Surgery

Doctors Hospital has special expertise in finding innovative ways to use minimally invasive surgical techniques. Whether it is for the treatment of digestive disorders or cancer, the surgical team has a wealth of experience in using advanced tools and techniques to make surgery and recovery easier on patients.

In addition to minimally invasive surgery, Doctors Hospital offers surgical expertise in the following areas:

Head and Neck Surgery

Head and neck surgery at Doctors Hospital is performed by Otolaryngologists. The more commonly known name for the specialty is Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor. However, today's Otolaryngololgist receives broad-based training in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the head and neck, making the name ENT Doctor obsolete. The Otolaryngologist is trained in:

Laryngology: Treatment of patients suffering from voice and swallowing disorders caused by benign or malignant conditions affecting the vocal cords and other vocal/swallowing tract structures.
Maxillofacial and Reconstructive Surgery: Treatment of patients with abnormalities of the face and mouth, including a variety of problems from birth defects (such as cleft palate) to accidents causing disfigurement to removal of tumors involving the tissues of the mouth. They also perform surgical procedures to reshape the nose or jaw to improve appearance and function.
Nose and Sinus Allergy: Diagnosis and treatment of patients with symptoms and manifestations of nose and sinus allergy including hay fever and other inhalant seasonal and perennial allergies which are present all year round.
Oncology: Treatment of cancer of the head and neck which may involve surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. The Otolaryngologist works closely with Medical and Radiation Oncologist to design the best possible treatment program.
Otology: Medical and/or surgical treatment of diseases and conditions of the ear, such as: ear infections, balance problems or dizziness, and hearing problems.
Plastic Surgery: Similar to reconstructive surgery except that the surgery is often done for cosmetic purposes. Plastic surgery is important for patients who have been victims of disfiguring accidents and for those who wish to have a more improved or youthful appearance.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Derived from the Greek word "plastikos," meaning "to mold or give form," plastic surgery has the goal of restoring function and form to the body. Unlike most surgical specialties, it is not confined to one organ system or body part. Instead, plastic surgery repairs, reconstructs and replaces physical defects involving:

Skin and soft tissue
Head and neck
Facial structures
Trunk and extremities
Hand
Breast
Peripheral nerves

There are two types of plastic surgery: reconstructive and cosmetic. According to the Americal Medican Association, the two types of plastic surgery are defined as follows:

Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance.

Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem.

Cosmetic and reconstructive procedures performed by a plastic surgeon from Doctors Hospital include:

Treatment of skin diseases, cancer, trauma:

Malignant and benign lesions of the skin (basal cell, squamous cell)
Melanoma
Malignant and benign lesions of the soft tissue (sarcoma, lipoma)
Birthmarks
Reconstructive flaps and grafts
Scar revisions

Complex wound and burn treatment:

Acute burn management (thermal, chemical, electrical)
Reconstructive burn treatment
Difficult wound care (infections, bites, foreign bodies, chronic open wounds)
End-stage hidradenitis suppurativa

Surgery of the breast:

Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction
Breast reduction
Congenital and developmental breast deformities
Gynecomastia

Treatment of facial deformity, disease, trauma:

Facial fractures (mandible, zygoma, orbits, nose)
Tumors of the lips, mouth, tongue, salivary glands
Congenital tumors and vascular malformations
Wound and laceration treatment
Nasal deformity, ear deformity
Cleft lip and palate

Surgery of the hand:

Hand and forearm wounds
Tendon injuries and lacerations
Nerve injuries
Fractures of the hand
Vascular injuries of the hand
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Dupuytren's contracture
Trigger finger
Congenital anomalies (extra digits, webbed fingers, etc.)

Surgery of the trunk and extremities:

Chest and abdominal wall reconstruction
Perineal reconstruction
Lower extremity coverage
Flaps, grafts, free tissue transfer, expanders

Cosmetic surgery:

Facelift (browlift, neck-lift)
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
Cosmetic rhinoplasty
Cosmetic otoplasty
Liposuction
Collagen injections
Abdominoplasty

General Surgery

Our surgical expertise includes the management of the most common surgical ailments including the treatment of simple and complex hernias; the treatment of gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcer disease, colon cancer, anorectal disorders, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease; diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and liver; endocrine problems, benign and malignant disease of the breast.

Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the lower intestinal tract, including:

Colonic Polyps
Colon Cancer
Diverticlular Disease
Colonic Volvulus
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn's Disease
Constipation
Diarrhea
Orthopedic Surgery
Colostomy Problems
Colorectal Trauma
Pediatric colorectal Problems
Rectal Prolapse
Rectal Cancer
Hemmorrhoids (Surgery, Rubberband Ligation)
Anal Fissure
Anorectal Abscess
Anorectal Fistula
Anal Incontinence
Anal Cutaneous Conditions
Anal Stricture
Malignant Tumors of Anal Canal

Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgery is dedicated to the care of patients with disorders of the circulatory system. These disorders fall into two broad general disease processes known as atherosclerosis and thrombophlebitis, which affect the arterial and venous systems respectively.

In the past decade there have been numerous diagnostic and surgical technological advances such as: ultrasound enhancement, angioplasty, stenting devices, endoluminal bypasses, and improved imaging techniques.

The vascular disease process involves multiple systems of the body. As such, the care of the vascular patient requires the combined efforts of the surgeon, radiologist and internist. The Department of Surgery is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date techniques in treating the vascular patient and is forging ahead in various areas of research to solve problems that only a few years ago were deemed unsolvable.

Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Doctors Hospital of Laredo, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.

The information, content and artwork provided by this Web site is intended for non-commercial use by the reader. The reader is permitted to make one copy of the information displayed for his/her own non-commercial use. The making of additional copies is prohibited.