Upper GI Surgery

e have a strong interest in minimally invasive laparoscopic (key hole) surgery and specialize in benign upper gastrointestinal conditions. We work closely with the colorectal surgeons and the gastroenterologists in our hospital to provide an effective multidisciplinary service.

Your health is very important to us and our patient pathways have been carefully developed to provide patients with the best experience from referral through to post-operative care. We aim to perform most of our surgery as a day case or overnight stay (one night in hospital). As a result we have one of the shortest waiting lists in the country and one of the highest-rated services by our patients in the NHS friends and family test.

Upper GI cancer surgery is performed in the regional centre, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, as per National Guidelines, however, the unit is part of the Cancer Network and provides the whole range of initial management, including investigations & diagnosis. The North Devon unit is supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of Cancer Nurse Specialists, Gastroenterologists, Radiologists, Oncologists and Pathologists. A video-conference is held fortnightly with Derriford Hospital in Plymouth to agree management plans for our patients and ensure timely treatment.

The unit also participates in the Emergency Surgery service, providing specialist care for complex Upper GI conditions such as severe pancreatitis and gastric volvulus. We have a well-developed fast-track pathway for patients with acute cholecystitis and gallstone pancreatitis ensuring timely surgical intervention where appropriate.

Our services

We provide a number of services including the assessment and treatment of:

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Upper GI Endoscopy
Treatment of diseases of the gall bladder and bile duct problems as well as pancreatitis
Investigation and treatment of gastro-oesophageal problems including reflux (GORD), hiatus hernia, Barrett’s oesophagus and ulcer disease
Investigation and treatment of disorders of the spleen
Achalasia of the oesophagus
Treatment of hernias – inguinal, femoral, umbilical, spigellian, lumbar, incisional and epigastric hernias

We also carry out a number of procedures including:

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and Bile duct exploration
Laparoscopic antireflux Surgery
Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair
Splenectomy – laparoscopic and open
Heller procedure (Cardiomyotomy)
Inguinal hernia repair – laparoscopic and open
Incisional and ventral hernia repair – laparoscopic and open

Meet the team

Mr David Sanders BSc, MBCHB, FRCS, MD, PGDipMedEd (Clinical Lead for Upper GI Surgery)
Mr Anjum Arain MBBS, FRCS, PGdipLapSurg (Locum Consultant GI Surgeon)
Mr Maciej Pawlak MD, PhD (Consultant Upper GI and Abdominal Wall Surgeon)
Mr John Findlay BMedSci (hons) BMBS (hons) PhD FRCS