Gastrointestinal Surgery
At Yale Medicine, our gastrointestinal surgery team specializes in surgical care for conditions affecting the colon, rectum, and the entire digestive tract. Expert surgeons use the latest minimally invasive techniques designed to reduce scarring and minimize discomfort after surgery, providing a smoother and more rapid recovery. We recognize that it’s natural to experience various emotions and concerns before undergoing surgery. That's why our approach focuses on patient education and comprehensive care—we are here to provide clear, detailed answers to all your questions before, during, and after your procedure.
Our Services
For weight loss, we offer the following minimally invasive surgical procedures:
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, in which a small stomach pouch is created to restrict food intake. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is then attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the lower stomach, the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine), and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This reduces the number of calories and amount of nutrients the body absorbs.
- LAP-Band® surgery, in which a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch to hold food. The band limits the amount of food one can eat by making the patient feel full after eating small amounts of food.
- Sleeve Gastrectomy, which involves removing about 85% of the stomach. The remaining portion of the stomach is stapled closed, creating a thin, vertical sleeve of stomach. The smaller-sized stomach holds less food, creating a feeling of fullness with significantly less food.
Specialized care is offered in the following areas:
- Abdominal wall reconstruction
- Complex, revisional invasive, and laparoscopic surgery for anal cancer, colon and rectal cancer, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gallstones and gallbladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, and other gastrointestinal conditions
- Laparoscopic screening and management of anorectal cancer
- Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity and its associated conditions, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and sleep apnea
- Pelvic floor disorders
- Motivation, education, and support throughout each bariatric patient’s weight-loss journey (provided by nursing, nutrition, and psychology providers)
- Transanal endoscopic microsurgery
- Ulcerative colitis treatment
