Upper Gastrointestinal & Bariatric Surgery

The Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery service is a sub-specialty service under the Department of Surgery. Our team provides management of diseases affecting the upper gastrointestinal tract which ranges from outpatient clinical evaluation, to day procedures such as diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, as well as complex surgical procedures in the operating theatre.

Our team is equipped to perform minimally invasive (i.e. key-hole) surgery for the majority of conditions we encounter. This can include the surgical treatment of morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome (with type II diabetes mellitus), benign upper digestive tract disorders, and the complete resection of malignant tumors with restoration of digestive tract function. In addition, we work closely in multi-disciplinary teams (with doctors in other departments, specialist nurses and allied health professionals) to provide care for our patients.

Our team strongly believes that continuing medical education is of utmost importance. We regularly run public forums to raise awareness, promote good health and encourage early treatment. Apart from teaching medical undergraduates, we also conduct hands-on workshops for healthcare professionals in the region. We are actively engaged in clinical research as well, and are running several multi-disciplinary studies- our publications can be found in international surgical journals.

Clinical Services

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

• Evaluate symptoms and diagnose upper GI malignant tumors on endoscopy
• Endoscopic resection of early upper GI malignant tumors
• Endoscopic procedures for palliation of advanced upper GI malignant tumors (e.g. stenting, feeding tube insertion)
• Minimally invasive (including robotic assisted) gastrectomy for gastric cancer
• Minimally invasive (including robotic assisted)esophagectomy for esophageal cancer
• Minimally invasive surgery for malignant upper GI submucosal tumors (e.g. GIST)
• Minimally invasive surgery for palliation of advanced upper GI malignant tumors (e.g. gastro-jejunal bypass, feeding tube insertion)

Benign Upper Gastrointestinal Conditions

• Evaluate symptoms and diagnose benign upper GI conditions on endoscopy (e.g. reflux, achalasia)
• Endoscopic procedures for treatment of benign upper GI conditions e.g. balloon dilatation of peptic strictures, feeding tube insertion
• Endoscopic surveillance of pre-malignant upper GI lesions (e.g. Barrett’s oesophagus, gastric intestinal metaplasia)
• Endoscopic treatment of bleeding from upper GI tract
• Minimally invasive surgery for benign upper GI tumors (e.g. leiomyoma)
• Minimally invasive surgery for esophageal motility disorders (e.g. cardiomyotomy for achalasia)
• Minimally invasive surgery for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (e.g. hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication)
• Minimally invasive surgery for complicated peptic ulcer disease (e.g. repair of perforation, vagotomy, bypass of strictures, surgical hemostasis for bleeding)

Morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome

• Minimally invasive surgery for treatment of morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome (e.g. sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass)
• Follow-up and adjustment of previously implanted adjustable gastric bands
• Endoscopic and surgical management of complications from previous bariatric procedures including adjustable gastric bands (e.g. weight regain, reflux)

Others

• Minimally invasive repair of complicated abdominal wall hernia (e.g. inguinal, ventral, incisional)
• Minimally invasive adrenalectomy for benign and malignant adrenal lesions
• Minimally invasive thoracoscopic sympathectomy for treatment of hyperhidrosis (e.g. excessively sweaty palms)