1. Hernia

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. At Olive Hospital, we treat all types of hernias including inguinal (groin), umbilical (belly button), incisional (occurring at previous surgical sites), femoral, and hiatal hernias.

Symptoms may include a visible lump, discomfort during lifting or coughing, and a dragging sensation. If left untreated, hernias can become strangulated, cutting off blood supply to the trapped tissue, which is a surgical emergency.

Our surgeons offer both open and laparoscopic hernia repairs with high success rates and low recurrence.

2. Gallbladder Diseases

The gallbladder is a small organ beneath the liver that stores bile. Gallbladder diseases include gallstones (cholelithiasis), which are hardened deposits of digestive fluid, and cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).

Patients typically experience sudden, intense pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after fatty meals, along with nausea, vomiting, and fever. If a gallstone blocks the bile duct, it can lead to jaundice or pancreatitis.

At Olive Hospital, we perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy (keyhole gallbladder removal), which is the gold standard treatment. This minimally invasive procedure allows most patients to return home within 24 hours and resume normal activities in one week.

3. Appendicitis

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right abdomen.

This condition often begins with vague pain around the navel that later shifts to the lower right side, accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and fever. If not treated promptly, the appendix can perforate (rupture), leading to a life-threatening infection called peritonitis.

At Olive Hospital, we diagnose appendicitis using physical examination, blood tests, and imaging like ultrasound or CT scan. Treatment is almost always surgical removal (appendectomy), which we perform laparoscopically whenever possible for faster recovery, less pain, and minimal scarring.

4. Colorectal Conditions

Colorectal conditions affect the colon, rectum, and anus. These include diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in the colon wall), colon polyps (abnormal growths that may become cancerous), colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids (swollen anal blood vessels), anal fissures (tears in the anal lining), and fistulas (abnormal connections between the rectum and skin).

Symptoms can range from chronic constipation or diarrhea, blood in stools, abdominal pain, to painful bowel movements.

At Olive Hospital, we offer comprehensive management including colonoscopy for diagnosis, medication for mild cases, and surgery for advanced disease. Our colorectal procedures include laparoscopic bowel resection, hemorrhoidectomy, fistula surgery, and stapled hemorrhoidopexy (PPH) with emphasis on preserving continence and quality of life.

5. Breast Diseases

Breast diseases in general surgery include both benign and malignant conditions. Benign breast lumps such as fibroadenomas, breast cysts, and fibrocystic changes are common and often present as painless, mobile masses.

Breast abscesses, usually occurring in lactating women, cause painful, swollen, and red areas requiring drainage. Breast cancer remains a major concern, and early detection is critical.

At Olive Hospital, we perform breast lump excision (lumpectomy) for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, along with more extensive procedures when indicated.

Our approach includes triple assessment (clinical exam, imaging like mammography or ultrasound, and biopsy) to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. We work closely with surgical oncologists for comprehensive breast cancer care including mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy.

6. Thyroid & Parathyroid Disorders

The thyroid gland in the neck regulates metabolism, while the parathyroid glands control calcium balance.

Common thyroid conditions include multinodular goiter (enlarged thyroid with multiple nodules), solitary thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid causing weight loss, palpitations, and heat intolerance), and thyroid cancer.

Parathyroid disorders involve hyperparathyroidism due to benign adenomas, leading to high calcium levels, kidney stones, bone pain, and fatigue.

At Olive Hospital, we perform thyroid lobectomy (removal of half the gland) for benign nodules, total thyroidectomy for cancer or large goiters, and parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism.

Our surgeons use intraoperative nerve monitoring to protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, preserving voice function. Most patients go home within 24 to 48 hours.

7. Upper GI Conditions

Upper gastrointestinal conditions affect the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Common disorders include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus causing heartburn and regurgitation; hiatal hernias, where part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm; peptic ulcer disease, which are sores in the stomach or duodenal lining often caused by H. pylori infection or NSAIDs; and stomach tumors (benign or malignant).

Symptoms may include burning chest pain, difficulty swallowing, bloating, nausea, and black stools from bleeding ulcers.

At Olive Hospital, surgical treatment options include laparoscopic fundoplication for GERD, repair of hiatal hernias, and partial or total gastrectomy for stomach cancer.

We emphasize minimally invasive techniques to reduce hospital stay and postoperative discomfort.

8. Small Intestine & Appendix

Small intestine disorders, though less common than colonic diseases, can be serious.

These include intestinal obstruction caused by adhesions (scar tissue from previous surgeries), hernias, or tumors; Crohn's disease (an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the digestive tract but commonly involves the small intestine); and Meckel's diverticulum (a congenital pouch in the small intestine that can cause painless rectal bleeding or inflammation mimicking appendicitis).

Small bowel tumors, though rare, include adenocarcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, and lymphomas.

Symptoms of small intestine problems include crampy abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.

At Olive Hospital, we treat these conditions with bowel resection and anastomosis, lysis of adhesions, and strictureplasty for Crohn's disease, always preserving as much healthy bowel as possible.

9. Soft Tissue Tumors

Soft tissue tumors arise from connective tissues such as fat, muscle, blood vessels, or nerves.

The vast majority are benign, including lipomas (soft, movable fatty lumps), sebaceous cysts (slow-growing bumps under the skin from blocked oil glands), fibromas, and neurofibromas. However, malignant soft tissue tumors called sarcomas can also occur and require aggressive treatment.

Benign tumors usually cause no pain unless they press on nearby structures or become infected.

At Olive Hospital, we perform surgical excision of bothersome benign lumps, often under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting.

For suspected sarcomas, we perform wide local excision with clear margins and coordinate with oncology teams for possible radiation or chemotherapy.

All excised tissue is sent for histopathological examination to confirm the diagnosis.

10. Trauma & Emergency Surgery

Trauma and emergency general surgery deals with life-threatening surgical conditions requiring immediate intervention.

These include acute abdomen (sudden severe abdominal pain of unknown cause), perforated viscus (a hole in the stomach, intestine, or gallbladder allowing contents to leak into the abdominal cavity causing peritonitis), blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma from accidents or falls, strangulated hernias where blood supply is cut off, and massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

Patients often present with severe pain, rigidity of the abdominal wall, fever, shock, or altered mental status.

At Olive Hospital, our emergency surgical team is available 24/7 for rapid assessment, resuscitation, and operative management.

Procedures include exploratory laparotomy, repair of perforated organs, bowel resection, splenectomy, and control of internal bleeding.

Time is critical, and our dedicated trauma protocol ensures the best possible outcomes.