General Surgery

Why choose Ochsner Health for your general surgery care?

The general surgery department at Ochsner offers advanced procedures and techniques for a wide range of conditions. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained general surgeons perform thousands of major and minor surgeries annually in our state-of-the-art surgical suites. Their skill in handling even the most complex surgical procedures has made Ochsner the top referral center in the region, attracting patients from across Louisiana and Mississippi.

U.S. News & World Report repeatedly gives Ochsner high marks for its surgical specialties. In 2022, Ochsner ranked in the country’s top 10% of programs for gastroenterology surgery, neurosurgery and lung surgery. Whether treating cancer, providing surgical critical care or addressing a chronic illness, you can count on Ochsner general surgeons to have the knowledge and experience every ill patient needs.

It’s easy to schedule general surgery at Ochsner. With dozens of locations offering multiple general surgical subspecialties, you can always find a surgeon near you providing the services you need at a location close to home. Find a location near you.

General surgery is a medical specialty that treats acute and chronic conditions. Surgery may remove soft tissue, such as a tumor, or it may repair diseased organs or broken bones. Ochsner general surgeons have been trained to provide expert care, including preoperative and postoperative supervision. Additionally, our general surgeons are trained to handle emergency situations where quick intervention may be necessary to save a surgical patient’s life.

The Ochsner department of general surgery has several subspecialties, including:

Acute care surgery

Breast surgery

Colon and rectal surgery

Endocrine surgery

Gastrointestinal surgery

Robotic and minimally invasive surgery

Surgical oncology

Thoracic surgery

General surgery can treat a wide variety of medical conditions, from acute injuries to serious illnesses to chronic health problems. Many of the typical conditions we treat include:

Abdominal wall hernias

Achalasia — a disorder that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach

Appendicitis

Breast cancer

Burns

Cancer

Cysts, lipomas and other benign growths and tumors

Enterocutaneous fistula — an atypical connection between the gastrointestinal tract and the skin

Esophageal disorders

Gallbladder disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Hemorrhoids

Inflammatory bowel disease

Liver disease

Pancreatic disease

Skin cancer

Thyroid and parathyroid disease

Trauma

Vascular disease

Ochsner general surgeons also work with surgeons and physicians in other surgical specialties to treat many types of complex conditions.

General surgery at Ochsner offers the resources and the capabilities that smaller healthcare facilities do not have. Our highly trained physicians and staff use leading-edge technology to perform complex surgeries, including:

Arteriovenous fistula repair

Cholecystectomy — gallbladder removal

Esophagogastric fundoplasty — minimally invasive surgery to treat GERD

Hernia repair

Lumpectomy and mastectomy

Minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures

Port placement

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) — a procedure that treats certain swallowing disorders

Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion

Robotic surgery

Whipple procedure — a complex surgery to treat pancreas and bile duct disorders

We perform outpatient and inpatient surgeries. We also have an intensive care unit surgical suite for the most critical cases, as well as a minimally invasive minor procedure room.

If you need reassurance that your surgery is necessary, Ochsner general surgeons are available for expert second opinions. We also make it easy for referring providers and their staff to access care by calling our Regional Referral Center at 855-312-4190.