General Surgery

Here are some of the surgical procedures performed by OSF Saint Francis physicians:

Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)
Your gallbladder is a small organ that stores a digestive juice called bile. If it malfunctions, gallstones may form, ranging in size from a grain of rice to a golf ball. The gallbladder also may become inflamed, infected or cancerous. Removal of the gallbladder is among the most common surgeries. Read more.

Esophagectomy
A complex surgical procedure to remove a tumor from your esophagus. Incisions are made in your neck, chest or abdomen; size of the incisions depend on the size of the tumor. OSF Saint Francis is among a relative few hospitals that perform this surgery.

Lung resection
A thoracic surgeon opens your chest to remove diseased portions of a lung. Sometimes, the entire lung is removed.

Diverticulitis surgery
When diverticulitis becomes severe or life-threatening, a colectomy may be required to remove part of your colon, or large intestine.

Colon resection
This entails removing part or all of your colon, or large intestine. A colectomy is performed to remove the diseased portion and reattach the healthy sections of your colon. In some cases, a colostomy may be required. The colostomy may be temporary or permanent, depending on the situation.

LINX
Surgery to insert a device into your esophagus to manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The device allows food and liquid into your stomach, then closes after swallowing to prevent regurgitation.

Hernia surgery
When tissue in your body bulges through a weak spot in surrounding muscle tissue, it’s called a hernia. A surgeon will push the bulge back in place and close the hole in the muscle.

Transanal surgery
This procedure removes rectal tumors while leaving the anus and sphincter intact, preserving bowel function.

Liver surgery for primary liver cancer
A partial hepatectomy removes the diseased portion of the liver.

Robotic hysterectomy
Your surgeon uses a computer to manipulate the surgical instruments and remove your uterus. Read more.

Prostate cancer
A radical prostatectomy removes your prostate gland to treat prostate cancer that is confined to the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles.

Kidney/ureter problems
The ureter is an 8- to 10-inch tube that carries urine from your kidney to the bladder. If a tumor develops in or near the ureter, normal urinary function may be affected and surgery is required to remove the tumor.

Ureteral implants and re-implantations
This surgery stops urine from backing up through the ureter and into the kidneys.

Kidney cancer (adults)
Surgery is the most common treatment for kidney cancer. The goal is to take out the tumors, but in some cases your entire kidney may be removed.

Bariatric surgeries
There are several options for weight-loss surgery: duodenal switch, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. Learn more about those options, their advantages and disadvantages.

Thoracic surgeries
OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute is a leader in chest surgery. Learn more about these procedures.