General Surgery offered at Mercy in Baltimore

General or open surgery is the traditional type of surgery performed by surgeons. A surgeon makes an incision or multiple incisions into the body and performs the procedure. General surgery may be the optimum choice for some patients, and not all procedures can be performed as minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgeries. Patients may be treated with general, traditional surgery because it is the procedure that offers them the best possible surgical outcome.

General surgery can be performed for:

• Abdominal trauma
• Appendicitis
• Gallbladder/gallstones
• Hemorrhoids
• Hernias
• Tumors in the intestines or colon

In general surgery, a surgeon makes a long incision or several incisions to insert instruments for the procedures. The surgeon visualizes his work through the incision alone. The average incision is several inches long.

Patients who have had abdominal surgeries in the past or are diagnosed as obese are better candidates for general surgery.  If the procedure cannot be performed minimally invasively techniques, then general surgery is the only option. Other considerations include the complexity of the surgery, if multiple surgeries are being performed, or if the surgery is an emergency situation. 

Doctors and patients discuss the options together to determine the best treatment plan unless it is an emergency response. 

The surgeons of The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery are equally experienced in general surgery and perform traditional surgery if it’s the best possible option for their patient. Our doctors work in the state-of-the-art operating rooms of The Mary Catherine Bunting Center and have access to the latest technology. 

Patients receive the full services of an entire hospital team and after surgery, recover in the private rooms of The Bunting Center, Mercy’s Main Hospital.