Surgical Services at St. James Healthcare

During an endoscopy, a small, flexible tube with an attached camera is used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, from digestive to bronchial issues. These minimally invasive procedures are typically performed under mild sedation, and you’re able to go home the same day.

Learn more about endoscopy.

General surgery care includes the care you receive through the entire surgical experience. This includes preoperative care (before surgery), the operative care and the postoperative care (after surgery care). General surgeons focus on:

• Abdominal region surgical care
• Thyroid and parathyroid glands surgical care
• Skin and soft tissue diseases throughout the body
• Cancerous and non-cancerous conditions

Our general surgeons are responsible for both elective surgery (surgery you decide to have) as well as emergency care.

We offer minimally invasive surgeries that uses smaller incisions for many of our patients. However, our surgeons are experts in open surgery if a more traditional surgerical approach is necessary. 

Learn more about our general surgery services.

For many conditions, interventional radiology provides an alternative to conventional surgery. In this medical specialty, doctors use imaging and catheters (flexible tubes) or wires to diagnose and treat conditions.

Learn more about interventional radiology.

A laser sends out a concentrated beam of light, allowing surgeons to cut through tissue without damaging nearby cells. Laser beams can seal a wound, repair damaged tissue or destroy certain cells. We use laser surgery for eye surgery, gynecologic procedures and the removal of skin marks and small tumors.

Read more about laser surgery.

Minimally invasive techniques involve smaller incisions, often leading to a quicker recovery with less pain and scarring. Not all conditions are suitable for minimally invasive surgery, but more are being performed than ever before.

Examples of minimally invasive surgery include robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery. Throughout our system we offer these advanced surgical care options. You will need to call your local hospital to learn which of the surgical options are available in your area.

Your condition may need open, or traditional, surgery. This requires your surgeon to make an incision large enough for him or her to see the structures and organs. Your surgeon may be able to complete the surgery with unaided vision. Or he or she may need to use loupes or a microscope.

Many times you elect to have open surgery for conditions like herniated discs, cardiac surgery or neurosurgery.

Outpatient surgery, also referred to as ambulatory or same-day surgery, allows you to return home on the same day that your surgical procedure was performed. It eliminates inpatient hospital admission, reduces the amount of medication prescribed, and uses a doctor's time more efficiently.

Learn more about preparing for your outpatient procedure.

Trauma surgery treats the seriously ill or injured patients. Our surgeons perform care for those that come into our ER with injuries of the neck, chest and abdomen. Often our patients have been injured in car accidents, bicycle or motorcycle accidents, trips and falls, skiing or snowboarding accidents, as well as many other unforeseen activity-related injuries.

Rarely your physician might use an open surgery specialty called exploratory laparotomy. This is an open abdominal surgery used to check your injuries during an emergency situation.

Read more about our trauma services and our trauma surgery care.