Surgery may be an option for treating conditions involving the intestinal tract, colon, rectum, anal canal and perianal area. Endoscopic procedures are sometimes used to help detect and treat some conditions. Some common colon and rectal surgical procedures include:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal Fissure (painful tears in the anal lining) & Peri-Anal Fistula
• Peri-Anal & Peri-Rectal Abscesses - (infections located around the anus and rectum)
• Rectal Tumors

Typically thyroid and parathyroid surgery involves removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. Depending on the nature of your condition, sometimes surgery may involve removing additional glands or tissue in the neck.  Reasons for surgery may include:

• Abnormal functioning glands
• Nodules that are causing difficulty with swallowing or breathing
• Large nodules that are visible (goiters)
• Cancer

Gastrointestinal surgery can involve a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments from the basic to complex. Operations can involve the stomach, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, or small intrestine. Common gastrointestinal problems treated with surgery:

• Gall Stones
• Ulcers
• Small Intestine Blockages or Obstructions
• Appendectomies

A hernia occurs when tissue bulges out through an opening in the muscles. Although any part of the abdominal wall can weaken and develop a hernia, the most common hernia surgeries include:

• Diaphram (hiatal)
• Groin (inguinal)
• Navel (umbilical)
• Defects from previous operations (incisional)

Depending on your unique health situation, Dr. Kampfe will recommend if your hernia should be repaired either as an open or a laparoscopic surgical approach.

• Open Hernia Repair:  An incision is made near the site and the hernia is repaired with mesh or by suturing (sewing) the muscle closed.
• Laparoscopic Hernia Repair:  The hernia is repaired by mesh or sutures inserted through instruments placed through small incisions into the abdomen using a TV camera approach.

If a suspicious abnormality is found in a patient's breast, aspiration cytology or stereotactic biopsy is utilized to sample the suspicious breast tissue. Also, needle wire localization open breast biosopies can be used to access more difficult areas of the breast.

If diagnosed with breast cancer, treatment may involve removal of all or part of the breast and could also involve removal of some or all of the lymph glands in the adjacent armpit (axilla).

Surgery may be used to diagnose or stage a cancer to determine proper treatment. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells so that it can be analyzed in a laboratory. Biopsy procedures may be surgical or through needle aspiration. Staging may involve removal of adjacent tissues or regional lymph glands.

Cancer can involve various organ systems as well as the skin. Cancer treatment may also involve other modalities such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Cancer surgery can involve placement of vascular access catheters or ports for administration of chemotherapy, pain medications,  and/or drawing of blood.

Often pediatric surgery occurs after a referral from a child’s physician. With over 30 years experience, Dr. Kampfe understands the special nature of pediatric surgery, and will work with you and your physician to determine the best surgical treatment option. Conditions treated include:

• Pyloric stenosis: splitting of the pyloric muscle that has swollen and closed off the end of the stomach
• Umbilical hernia: the skin at the the belly button protrudes or enlarges. The underlying muscle defect may allow intestine or fat to become trapped in the hernia. The hernia may also continue to enlarge and grow.
• Groin or inguinal hernia (indirect type): a congenital sac that fails to fuse and may fill with fluid or abdominal contents and may become irreducible or fill the scrotum.