Assoc. Prof. Doğukan Durak

The aim of surgery in stomach, colon and rectum cancers is to remove the tumor along with the lymph nodes, complying with the oncological margins. Robotic and laparoscopic techniques allow this to be done through several small incisions, accompanied by a magnified camera view.

Small incisions usually mean less pain and shorter recovery. However, the choice of method is made according to the location and stage of the tumor. Suitability is determined by preoperative staging and council evaluation.

Achalasia is a disease that causes difficulty in swallowing due to the inability of the lower valve of the esophagus to relax. POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy) is a method in which the esophagus muscle is relaxed from the inside with an endoscope inserted through the mouth, and does not require an incision in the skin.

Before the procedure, the diagnosis must be confirmed with a swallowing film and pressure measurement (manometry). In suitable patients, POEM is considered as an incision-free alternative to surgical myotomy.

Obesity surgery is not an aesthetic intervention, but a treatment step targeting obesity-related health problems. It is evaluated in patients who cannot achieve adequate results with diet, exercise and medical treatment and who exceed certain body mass index thresholds.

Preparation includes endocrinology and dietitian evaluations and, when necessary, a psychological evaluation. Regular follow-up and nutrition routine after the surgery are as decisive as the surgery itself in the permanence of the result.

Pancreas and liver surgeries are among the most comprehensive interventions in digestive system surgery. Vascular neighborhoods and organ reserve directly affect the decision for surgery; therefore detailed imaging and staging are the basis for planning.

In suitable patients, bile duct and pancreas interventions are supported by endoscopic methods. Decisions are made through joint evaluation involving surgery, gastroenterology, oncology and radiology.