Emergency Surgery

  1. Incision and drainage of an abscess

     This procedure is performed under a general anesthetic, usually as an emergency to treat an abscess. Sometimes, if this is a small abscess and depending on its location, it may be possible to be drained using local anesthesia. The procedure involves making a surgical cut over the skin where the abscess is located and draining all the pus, washing away the infection. The wound is then packed with a special absorbing material and left open to heal from the inside out to prevent the abscess from reforming. Sometimes, if the cavity is very big, a small drain may be left for a few days to drain any remaining pus, and it is removed after a few days.

  1. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis

     A laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) is a minimally invasive procedure requiring a general anesthetic. Adhesiolysis is the breaking down of scar tissue (adhesions) inside the abdomen between loops of bowel. The scar tissue can cause chronic abdominal pain or intestinal blockage that can be identified and released with this procedure. The procedure takes place through small incisions on your abdomen, 0.5-1cm in typical size, through which gas is inflated in order to create space and make internal organs easy to see. A tiny camera (laparoscope) is then inserted into the abdomen, guiding the insertion of further specialized laparoscopic instruments, which are used to inspect the organs inside the abdomen and break down the adhesions.

  1. Laparoscopic appendicectomy

     This is a minimally invasive procedure requiring a general anesthetic. In most cases, it is performed as an emergency operation, but sometimes it can be done as a planned operation. The operation takes place through small incisions on your abdomen, 0.5-1cm in typical size, through which gas is inflated in order to create space and make internal organs easy to see. A tiny camera (laparoscope) is then inserted into the abdomen, guiding the insertion of further specialized laparoscopic instruments, which are used to examine the inside of the abdomen and remove the appendix. Depending on the degree of pus or contamination inside the abdomen, sometimes a small drain may be left in the abdomen to drain any remaining fluid. This is removed after a few days.

  1. Laparoscopic peptic ulcer repair

     This is a minimally invasive procedure requiring a general anesthetic and is performed as an emergency life-saving operation in patients with peritonitis after perforation of a peptic ulcer. The operation takes place through small incisions on your abdomen, 0.5-1cm in typical size, through which gas is inflated in order to create space and make internal organs easy to see. A tiny camera (laparoscope) is then inserted into the abdomen, guiding the insertion of further specialized laparoscopic instruments, which are used to examine the inside of the abdomen. Once the side of the perforation is identified, a layer of fat (omentum) is used to patch and repair the ulcer perforation on your small bowel or stomach. Free pus or bowel content is washed away from the inside of the abdomen, and depending on the degree of contamination, sometimes a drain or two may be left in the abdomen to drain any remaining fluid. These are removed after a few days.

  1. Laparotomy

     This procedure is usually performed as an emergency and is undertaken under general anesthetic when you are too unwell to undergo a laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure. It is performed when there has been a significant life-threatening event inside your abdomen, such as perforation of the bowel (peritonitis), dead bowel, blockage of the bowel, bleeding, or trauma. The procedure can also be performed when a laparoscopic procedure is not possible. It involves making a surgical cut through the wall of the tummy to gain access to the organs inside and deal with the problem, making you unwell.

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