Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Surgery

General surgery at West Jefferson Medical Center

When you need surgery—whether it’s hernia surgery or a skin biopsy—it’s helpful to know what to expect, have a surgical team you can trust, and be close to home. At West Jefferson Medical Center, our surgical care team specializes in a variety of surgical treatments. We’re focused on you and improving your quality of life.

And what’s better than top medical care in a comfortable, trusted setting? When it’s right here in New Orleans.

Call 504.349.6713 to learn more about surgical care options.

Types of surgery we provide

The specific type of surgery our doctors recommend depends on your needs and medical history. Before your surgery, you'll have the chance to discuss the possible benefits and risks of the procedure with your surgeon. They'll also tell you about recovery time and other instructions.

Our surgeons provide the best specialized surgical care in the New Orleans metropolitan area. They all exceed credentialing criteria and have up to 40 years of experience in private practice. In addition to performing general surgery, our surgeons subspecialize in areas including colorectal, thyroid, breast, laparoscopic, robotic, bariatric and oncologic surgery. Moreover, our surgeons are among Louisiana's leading doctors in the field of hernia repair surgery.

Our surgical team is among the leaders of robotic surgery in the state, with emphasis on the da Vinci robot. So much so that our surgeons are qualified robotic instructors who teach other surgeons how to use the da Vinci robot for minimally invasive procedures.

Advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgery
Advanced laparoscopy and robotic surgeries are minimally invasive surgical techniques. Surgeons use specialized instruments and technology to perform complex procedures with smaller incisions. The result is less tissue damage and faster recovery time than traditional open surgery. Many types of procedures can use laparoscopy and robotic surgery. To learn more, ask your surgeon or surgical care team.
Alimentary tract surgery
Alimentary tract surgeries involve the digestive system—the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus. These surgeries typically help treat conditions like cancer, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, and injuries. Alimentary tract surgery examples include:
  • Colostomy: Creating an opening (stoma) in the stomach and connecting part of the colon to it. This procedure allows waste to bypass the lower part of the colon and leave the body through the stoma.
  • Esophageal diverticulectomy: Removing the esophageal diverticulum, which is part of the esophagus. This procedure helps with symptoms such as trouble swallowing, regurgitation, and aspiration.
  • Gastrostomy: Creating an opening (stoma) in the stomach wall and inserting a feeding tube.
  • Small bowel resection: Removing part of the small intestine that’s blocked or damaged.
Learn more about digestive care at West Jefferson
Anus or rectum surgery
Anus or rectum surgery usually happens to treat conditions such as anal cancer, rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or hemorrhoids. Some of the anus or rectum surgeries we do include:
  • Anal abscess or fistula surgery: Treating abscesses (pus-filled wounds) or fistulas (small openings) in the anal area.
  • Hemmorrhoidecomy: Removing hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the anus or lower rectum.
  • Rectal resection: Removing part or all of the rectum.
Breast Surgery
There are many types of breast surgery we provide. Examples include:
  • Biopsy: Removing a small tissue sample to look at under a microscope. We offer both breast biopsies and sentinel lymph node biopsies, which can help check for signs of breast cancer or other conditions, or see if breast cancer has spread.
  • Breast reconstruction: Rebuilding the breast after mastectomy surgery.
  • Lumpectomy: Removing a breast tumor and some surrounding tissue while saving as much of the breast as possible.
  • Mastectomy: Removing the entire breast to treat breast cancer or reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Endocrine Surgery
Endocrine surgery focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases that affect the endocrine glands. The endocrine glands make hormones to regulate different body functions. The most common endocrine surgeries include:
  • Pancreatic surgery: Removing tumors of the pancreas or managing complications related to pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs).
  • Parathyroidectomy: Removing one or more parathyroid glands in the neck. These glands produce hormones that regulate calcium levels in the body.
  • Thyroidectomy: Removing all or part of the thyroid gland in the neck. The thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate metabolism.
General abdominal surgery
General abdominal surgeries include surgery on organs and structures within the abdominal cavity. Common types of general abdominal surgery include:
  • Bile duct surgery: Performing surgery on the tubes that carry bile to the small intestine from the liver and gallbladder.
  • Cholecystectomy: Removing the gallbladder.
  • Exploratory laparotomy: Examining the abdominal organs to diagnose a condition.
  • Splenectomy: Removing the spleen because of cancer, injury or another condition.
Hernia surgery
At West Jefferson, our surgeons perform hernia surgeries that aim to fix hernias. Hernias happen when an organ or tissue protrudes through surrounding muscle or tissue.
Learn more about hernias and hernia treatment.
Offsite surgical procedures
We tend to perform offsite-based surgical procedures outside our traditional hospital setting—sometimes in an ambulatory surgery center or outpatient clinic. You may have an offsite procedure for:
  • Breast biopsy
  • Laceration repair or suture removal
  • Lower extremity vein treatment
  • Simple skin excisions
  • Skin biopsy
  • Small abscess drainage
  • Wound care
Skin and soft tissue surgery
Skin and soft tissue surgeries include a variety of procedures—some cosmetic, some medical. At West Jefferson Medical Center, we offer many of these surgeries. Examples of the most common types of skin and soft tissue surgery include:
  • Excisional surgery: Removing a skin lesion, such as a cyst, or tumor.
  • Mohs surgery: Treating skin cancer by removing thin layers of skin one at a time.
  • Reconstruction surgery: Rebuilding skin and soft tissue that has been damaged or lost due to injury, burns, or surgery.
  • Skin cancer resection: Removing skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma.
  • Wound care: Managing and treating wounds with cleaning, debridement, and dressing changes.
Thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery treats medical conditions affecting organs and structures in the chest (thorax). Surgery may help the lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, pleura, or mediastinum. Examples include chest abscess surgery and lung resection surgery.

Thoracic surgeons receive special training in this area. Here at West Jefferson Medical Center, our surgeons perform traditional surgery and minimally invasive techniques, including thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). With VATS, the surgeon makes small incisions in the chest wall and inserts a tiny camera and instruments to perform the procedure.

Related providers
Related locations
Related Blogs