Surgery

The surgeons at UT Health North Campus Tyler have the credentials, skills and access to modern equipment and facilities needed to complete a broad range of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures in the following specialties:

• Cardiovascular surgery: Our cardiovascular surgery team specializes in cutting-edge procedures to treat heart and vascular conditions, ensuring patients receive the highest level of care and improved cardiac health.
• Gastroenterological surgery: Gastroenterology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system disorders, ranging from acid reflux to complex liver diseases.
• General surgery: General surgery encompasses a broad range of procedures involving the abdomen, breast, skin, and soft tissues, often addressing acute and chronic conditions.
• Gynecological surgery: Gynecologic surgery deals with the surgical treatment of conditions affecting the female reproductive system, including hysterectomies and ovarian cyst removals.
• Hand surgery: Our plastic surgeons offer comprehensive hand surgery treatments, including care for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic injuries, and more.
• Hepatobiliary (HPB) surgery: UT Health North Campus Tyler offers advanced hepatobiliary surgery for diseases of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts, utilizing the latest techniques for optimal patient recovery.
• Plastic surgery: Our plastic surgery department provides both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, helping patients achieve desired outcomes with a focus on safety and aesthetic excellence.
• Podiatric surgery: Podiatric surgery addresses conditions and injuries affecting the foot and ankle, from bunions and heel spurs to fractures and deformities.
• Pulmonology surgery: The pulmonology surgery team is dedicated to treating lung and respiratory conditions through innovative surgical methods, enhancing patients’ breathing and overall quality of life.
• Surgical oncology: Specializing in the surgical treatment of cancer, our surgical oncology experts employ precision techniques to remove tumors and improve survival rates, working closely with other oncology specialists.
• Urological surgery: Urologic surgery specializes in the treatment of urinary tract and male reproductive system disorders, including kidney stones, prostate issues, and urinary incontinence.
• Vascular surgery: Our vascular surgery services address a wide range of vascular disorders, from varicose veins to complex aneurysms, using minimally invasive and traditional approaches for effective treatment.

If surgery is needed, a primary care physician will refer the patient to a surgeon. Our healthcare team uses a collaborative approach in providing care for our patients, and will work together to find the best solution for the patient.

Hepatobiliary surgery

The hepatobiliary (HPB) system is made up of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts and gallbladder. Each of these organs in the HPB system has a specific function to aid in digestion. There are diseases and disorders that can affect these organs and cause digestive problems.

UT Health North Campus is the only healthcare facility in the region that has the expertise and technology to treat diseases of the HPB system. When it comes to treating HPB cancers, our radiologists, surgeons and oncology experts work together as a team to provide patients with a care plan to help ensure the best outcomes.

Bile duct and gallbladder surgery

The bile ducts and gallbladder work together to move and store bile, which aids in digestion. Common bile duct and gallbladder conditions include:

• Hilar cholangiocarcinoma – A specific type of cancer that occurs in the bile ducts leading out the liver and connected to the gallbladder
• Choledochal cysts – Congenital cysts of the bile duct
• Gallbladder cancer – A type of cancer that often produces no symptoms but can be difficult to treat when diagnosis is discovered in its later stages

Treatment options include:

• Bile duct resection – Removing the sections that are affected and reconnecting the ducts
• Radical gallbladder surgery – Removing the gallbladder and a portion of surrounding liver as well as the surrounding lymph nodes

Liver surgery

The liver breaks down food to energize the body and creates bile, a substance which aids in digestion. The liver also removes toxins from the body, as well as stores iron, vitamins and minerals.

Types of common liver conditions include:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – the most common primary liver tumor.
• Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) – the second most common primary liver tumor.
• Metastatic liver lesions – cancer that has spread from other cancers in the body, including:
  • Colorectal cancer.
  • Neuroendocrine tumors.
  • Breast cancer.
  • Testicular cancer.

Benign liver lesions that may require treatment:

• Adenomas – a benign tumor that’s caused by hormones
• Hemangiomas – a common type of benign liver tumor that’s made up of tangled blood vessels and can occur at any time
• Liver abscess – a pus-filled sore inside the liver caused by an infection
• Liver cysts – abnormal fluid-filled sacs

Pancreas surgery

The pancreas creates fluids which break down food, and produces hormones to stabilize blood sugar levels. Common pancreatic conditions include:

• Adenocarcinoma – The most common type of pancreatic cancer, which starts inside the glands of the pancreas
• Cystic neoplasms – Fluid-filled cysts that are benign, precancerous or contain cancer
• Neuroendocrine tumors (islet cell tumors) – Tumors that form in the cells that create hormones

Treatment options for these conditions include:

• Open and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy – A surgical procedure to remove tumors located in the body and tail of the pancreas.
• Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) – A complex surgical procedure that is most often used to remove pancreatic cancer at the head of the pancreas. This procedure can also be used to treat tumors in the distal bile duct. We perform vascular resection and reconstruction for borderline tumors (tumors close to the main blood vessels supplying the intestines).

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