Expert Abdominal Surgeries at Proliance Surgical Specialists

Understanding Abdominal Health

Common digestive disorder symptoms include abdominal pain, heartburn, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting. Recognizing these signs early is crucial to prevent severe complications. These digestive issues might necessitate surgical intervention, ranging from gallstone removal to ulcer repair, for better abdominal health.

A woman showing a long scar on her abdomen from a prior surgery.

Types of Abdominal Procedures We Provide

Abdominal surgery encompasses diverse techniques tailored to specific organs within the abdomen. Vital organs such as the liver, stomach, or kidneys may necessitate distinct surgical approaches.

There are two categories assigned to abdominal surgeries:

  • Laparotomies:

    These are extensive procedures involving a sizable incision on the abdomen, often associated with a more extended recovery period. Open surgery provides more extensive visual information to remove or repair tissues when some cases cannot be resolved with minimally invasive surgical procedures.
  • Laparoscopic Procedures:

    In contrast to laparotomies, laparoscopic procedures are minimally invasive surgeries. These procedures involve smaller incisions, resulting in minimal scarring, reduced blood loss, decreased postoperative discomfort, and quicker recovery times.

Common Abdominal Surgeries We Perform

A man sitting on a couch, holding his stomach.

There is a wide range of operations that fall beneath the abdominal surgery category, though there are more common issues such as:

  • The gallbladder: diseases related to the biliary system include gallstones, pancreatitis, and biliary dyskinesia.
  • The appendix: appendicitis can require emergency surgery to remove the appendix as appendicitis can lead to the appendix bursting. A patient can also suffer from appendix cancer, which also requires the removal of the organ.
  • Adhesions: a common occurrence after any prior abdominal surgery. The most common surgeries that lead to adhesions are bowel surgeries and gynecologic surgery such as a hysterectomy. Adhesions are usually not treated surgically unless they cause pathology such as bowel obstructions. Rarely, however, patients have had a prolonged workup for abdominal pain, and adhesions are found to be the source.
  • Small intestine surgery: these operations aim to resolve many disorders, such as Meckel’s diverticulum, diverticulitis, adhesions, masses, cancer, Crohn’s disease, and several other small intestine conditions.

Proliance Surgeons: Comprehensive Services for Abdominal Health

For comprehensive care, we provide surgical services to treat abdominal conditions. The following surgical services we offer at Proliance Surgical Specialists of Edmonds include:

Preparing for and Recovering from Abdominal Surgeries

Before surgery, preparation involves removing any artificial objects like contacts or dentures. An intravenous (IV) line administers anesthetics to maintain sedation throughout the procedure.

Key components of the surgical process include:

  • Administration of a pre-surgery laxative and fasting after midnight to prepare the bowels for surgery.
  • Abdominal procedures may span several hours.
  • Recovery duration varies based on the surgery type and individual, with most patients resuming normal activities within one to three months post-operation.
  • Prescription of pain management protocols.
  • Postoperative care includes rehabilitation strategies and detailed homecare instructions. The surgical team and the surgeon provide them to ensure optimal healing. Follow-up checkups are a must to confirm steady recovery with little to no complications.

Expert Surgeons in Abdominal Health

Profile picture of Carol Cornejo.

Carol Cornejo, MD, FACS

Areas of Expertise

  • Breast Surgery
  • Abdominal Surgery
  • Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Hernia Surgery
  • Thoracic Surgery

Patient Testimonials

“Dr. Cornejo is the best. I feel so safe under her care. She is so professional, understanding, and a just plain nice person. Also, I feel that she has played a huge part so far in my future health. Who could ask for anything more?” – Cari M.

“I really liked Dr. Carol Cornejo. Explained everything thoroughly & was very kind. I have total faith in her!” – Jill M.

“Dr Cornejo is who you want! Personable, extremely knowledgeable, patient and thorough. Thankful she did my surgery!” – Shana L.

Profile picture of Justin Olsen.

Justin Olsen, MD, FACS

Areas of Expertise

  • Abdominal Surgery
  • Anorectal Disorders
  • Hernia Surgery
  • Laparoscopic Surgery
  • Robotic Surgery

Patient Testimonials

“Dr Olsen was professional, thorough, and answered any Qs at my pre-surgical consult. Scheduling for the consult was very easy and the surgery scheduling was within just a couple of weeks for this non-emergent procedure.” – Mike C.

“Dr. Olsen is a wonderful surgeon and I have full confidence in his ability to take great care of his patients. The office and patient caregivers in the practice are friendly, courteous and very organized. Overall I have had a fantastic experience with Proliance Surgical Specialists despite the fact that I was experiencing multiple health challenges. They have made that chapter of my life much more bearable, thank you.” – Amy S. 

“Dr. Olsen performed hernia repair robotically on what turned out to be 8 hernias (!) I was amazed that I experienced only slight discomfort the first 3 days. Now at 2 wks none to speak of. So happy with the whole procedure. Thank you, Dr. Olsen!” – Elizabeth S.

Contact Us for Abdominal Surgery Consultation

At Proliance Surgical Specialists of Edmonds, accessing consultation is straightforward. Connect with our abdominal specialists and surgeons for professional guidance, swift diagnosis, and effective treatment. 

Our commitment to your comfort and care drives our services. We facilitate the consultation process, addressing all surgical inquiries and guiding you through your journey towards recovery. Contact us today to initiate your path to optimal abdominal health.