Gastrointestinal surgery is a treatment for diseases of the parts of the body involved in digestion. This includes the esophagus (ee-sof-uh-gus), stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. It also includes the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Surgery may be used to remove a cancerous or noncancerous growth or damaged part of the body, such as the intestine. It may also be used to repair a problem like a hernia (a hole or weak spot in the wall of the abdomen). Minor surgical procedures are used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system.

Gastrointestinal surgery is the use of surgical methods to treat any disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. This means if you have any diseases or conditions of any part of the body involving digestion, gastrointestinal surgery could be a possible treatment method. There are many approaches to gastrointestinal surgery including but not limited to laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery. Patients work closely with their doctor to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is right for them.

gastrointestinal surgery, can be divided into upper GI surgery and lower GI surgery.

Upper gastrointestinal surgery, often referred to as upper GI surgery, refers to a practice of surgery that focuses on the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract. There are many operations relevant to the upper gastrointestinal tract that are best done only by those who keep constant practice, owing to their complexity. Consequently, a general surgeon may specialize in 'upper GI' by attempting to maintain currency in those skills.

Upper GI surgeons would have an interest in, and may exclusively perform, the following operations:

• Pancreaticoduodenectomy
• Esophagectomy
• Liver resection

Lower gastrointestinal surgery includes colorectal surgery as well as surgery of the small intestine