This service focuses on the diagnosis and management of diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, small and large intestine, colon and rectum. Many procedures to surgically treat abdominal disorders can be done laparoscopically (minimal access). DIAGNOSIS Anal manometry/rectal manometry lab - Biofeedback - Defecography - EMG surface evaluation - Manometry - Rectal ultrasound Colonoscopy Endoscopy Flexible sigmoidoscopy Intra-operative and laparascopic ultrasound Laparoscopic biopsy Lymph node biopsy Needle laparoscopy for diagnosis and biopsy TREATMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL DISORDERS Excision of esophageal diverticula Heller myotomy (surgical treatment for achalasia), laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (surgical treatment for GERD), laparoscopic or open (gastroesophageal reflux disease) Transhiatal esophagectomy (minimal access esophageal resection), laparoscopic assisted TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE STOMACH AND DUODENUM, MOST LAPAROSCOPIC Antrectomy and drainage procedures Gastric surgery Hiatal and paraesophageal hernia repair Highly selective vagotomy Laparoscopic anti-ulcer surgery Laparoscopic splenectomy Management of gastrointestinal bleeding - Gastrectomy (sub-total and total) - Oversewing of bleeding ulcers - Oversewing of Mallory-Weiss tears Tumor resection Vagotomy ABDOMINAL WALL HERNIA REPAIR Inguinal Ventral Umbilical SURGERY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MORBID OBESITY TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE LIVER, BILE DUCTS AND PANCREAS Cryotherapy of liver tumors Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and bile duct exploration Liver resection for primary and metastatic tumors Reconstruction of bile duct injuries Distal pancreatectomy Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) Pancreatitis Pain relief Surgery of infectious pancreatitis The Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation TREATMENT FOR ANORECTAL DISEASE Anal sphincter reconstructions Endoscopic laser treatment of hemorrhoids Fissure operations Fistulotomy Hemorrhoidal banding and ligation Hemorrhoidectomy Rectovaginal fistula repair TREATMENT FOR DISORDERS OF THE COLON Colon resections (open and laparoscopic) Colanal pull through procedure Colonoscopic excision of polyps Colostomy and ileostomy (open and laproscopic) Ileo-anal pull-through procedure Laparoscopically assisted colon resection Laser/local treatment of rectal cancer Surgical treatment of small bowel disease and small bowel tumors LASER ASSISTED PROCEDURES (INCLUDING THOSE PERFORMED WITH FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPES) RECTAL PROLAPSE REPAIR (LAPAROSCOPIC, OPEN AND TRANSRECTAL REPAIR) TREATMENT OF THYROID AND PARATHYROID DISORDERS Angiography for detection and treatment of mediastinal adenomas Blood test, which identifies post-operative recurrence of thyroid cancer by identifying thyroid cancer cells in the peripheral blood stream, eliminating the need for repeated radioiodine scans Cryopreservation of parathyroid tissue for future autotransplantation Minimal access surgery Out-patient surgery for selected patients Parathyroid transplantation Routine use of coarse needle biopsy to improve pre-operative diagnosis of thyroid disease, and eliminate the need for surgery Preoperative ultrasound guided thyroid biopsies Surgical treatment for hyperparathyroidism in patients with MEN I and MEN II syndromes Surgical treatment for parathyroid cancer, including intra-operative recognition and treatment at the time of primary surgery Thyroid/parathyroid surgery without general anesthesia Transcervical approach to removal of mediastinal adenomas, which allows for greater precision Treatment of hyperplasia, with and without renal disease SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR DISORDERS OF THE ADRENAL GLAND Laparoscopic adrenalectomy TREATMENT FOR TUMORS OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS Parotid Sublingual Submandibular