The division of general and gastrointestinl surgery at Emory is one of the country's leading minimally invasive surgery centers. Division surgeons perform single incision laparoscopic surgery for resection of colon cancer, laparoscopic gallbladder and appendix operations using one-to-two incisions rather than the standard three-to-five, laparoscopic-assisted formal liver resections, and also provide both open and laparoscopic/endoscopic procedures for treating inflammatory bowel, colorectal, endocrine, gallbladder, pancreatic, esophageal and gastric diseases as well as intra-abdominal infections, hernias and morbid obesity.

Among the division's various high profile programs are the Emory Endosurgery Unit for Minimally Invasive Surgery, the Emory Bariatric Center and the Emory Gastroesophageal Treatment Center.

Emory Endosurgery Unit for Minimally Invasive Surgery

One of the first clinical, academic and research programs of its type in the U.S., the Endosurgery Unit has been heavily involved in refining endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures for performing bariatric surgery, colon and rectal surgery, gastroesophageal surgery, hernia surgery, solid organ surgery and endocrine surgery. Dr. Edward Lin, director of the unit, was the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform endoscopic plication for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in June 2004 at Emory University Hospital Midtown; was officially designated a Lap Band proctor in 2008, allowing him to certify surgeons in the minimally invasive procedure by observing them performing the technique; and directed the development of a single incision, laparoscopic technique for resection of colon cancer.

Emory Bariatric Center

Our faculty provide the surgical component of The Emory Bariatric Center, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals dedicated to treating the obese and the morbidly obese patient with such methods as nutrition and exercise therapy, lifestyle education, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. The program is one of the primary centers of its type in the southeast and is an accredited Level 1 Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons.

Emory Gastroesophageal Treatment Center

Using either laparoscopic, endoscopic or open methods, the Gastroesophageal Treatment Service treats esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Available procedures include esophagogastric myotomy, fundoplications and redo procedures for failed attempts at operative treatment as well as minimally invasive approaches for the diagnosis of GERD, including catheterless/wireless esophageal pH testing. New innovations for the treatment of reflux and esophageal diseases are being evaluated and tested.