General Surgery Specialist

What is general surgery?

General surgery is a surgical discipline that specializes in the nine basic areas of surgery:

• The gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• The abdominal area
• Skin and soft tissue
• Head and neck
• Heart and blood vessels
• Endocrine glands
• Surgery for cancer treatment
• Surgery for trauma injuries
• Surgical management of the critically ill

Dr. Santiago is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in colorectal surgery. However, she also performs other general surgeries using advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic tools and techniques, including robotic colorectal surgery.

Robotic surgery combines laparoscopic tools with advanced robotic technology. When performing robotic-assisted surgery, Dr. Santiago treats complex conditions with greater precision and flexibility. 

What are general surgery procedures?

General surgery performs many common surgical procedures. At the Colon and Rectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, Dr. Santiago does procedures to treat a wide range of conditions.

Types of general surgery procedures include:

Colectomy

A colectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the colon, which is the last section of your GI tract. Dr. Santiago may perform a colectomy to remove colon cancer or treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Small bowel resection

A small bowel resection is the surgical removal of the diseased portion of the small intestine. Dr. Santiago may perform a small bowel resection to treat Crohn’s disease, remove ulcers, or cancerous tumors. 

Anal fissure repair

An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anal tissue. This type of tear causes severe pain during a bowel movement. When an anal fissure fails to heal, Dr. Santiago performs a procedure to repair it.

Transanal surgery

Transanal surgery is a minimally invasive procedure Dr. Santiago performs to remove rectal polyps or treat rectal cancer. 

Removal of anal warts

Dr. Santiago surgically removes anal warts for immediate results.

Hemorrhoid banding

For hemorrhoids, Dr. Santiago performs hemorrhoid banding. 

Hernia repair

A hernia is the protrusion of your internal organs through a weak spot in your abdominal wall. Dr. Santiago performs surgery to repair the weakened tissue and the hernia. 

Rectal prolapse repair

A rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum falls through the anal opening. Dr. Santiago performs surgery to repair this prolapse. 

Am I a candidate for general surgery?

Schedule a consultation at the Colon and Rectal Clinic of Tampa Bay to see if you’re a candidate for general surgery. Dr. Santiago performs a thorough clinical exam to fully understand your health needs and provides the appropriate treatment recommendations.

Call the Colon and Rectal Clinic of Tampa Bay or schedule your general surgery consultation online today.