General Surgery

High Quality Surgical Care

From complex surgeries to routine procedures, the Albany Med Health System offers a wide range of general surgery options for patients.

The term, general surgery, means surgery that is performed on the abdominal organs and the torso. Our surgeons are experts in their fields and provide patients with comprehensive pre- and post-operative care.

Among the Conditions We Treat

  • Appendicitis
  • Hernias
  • Inflammatory diseases of the stomach, small intestine and colon
  • Benign and malignant diseases of the breast
  • Thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal gland disorders
  • Skin lesions, tumors and cysts
  • Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
  • Malignancies including soft tissue sarcomas and malignant melanomas
  • Trauma in all areas

Learn more about the broad range of general and specialized surgeries for infants, children and adolescents offered by the Albany Med Health System.

Among the Treatments We Offer

  • Appendectomies (laparoscopic or open)
  • Cholecystectomy: surgical removal of the gall bladder (single port surgery which is done with one incision, laparoscopic or open)
  • Hernia repair (robotic, laparoscopic or open)
  • Intestinal (bowel) obstruction (laparoscopic or open)
  • Inflammatory diseases of the stomach, small intestine, and colon
  • Management of benign and malignant diseases of the breast
  • Nissen Fundoplication surgery to treat gastrointestinal reflux disease
  • Open surgery for disorders of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands
  • Repair of skin lesions, tumors, cysts
  • Surgical management of benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas including:
    • Acute pancreatitis
    • Chronic pancreatitis
    • Pancreatic cancer
  • Surgical management of other malignancies including soft tissue sarcomas and malignant melanomas

All providers and locations in the System can be found in the Get Care section of this page.

Whenever possible, we use the least invasive surgical techniques to successfully treat patients.

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique in which the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts ports (small tubes) into these incisions. A camera and thin surgical instruments are placed in the ports to enter the patient's body. The camera transmits an image onto a monitor, which the surgeon uses to see inside the body and perform the operation. This method results in quicker recovery times, less discomfort and minimal scarring.

Whenever possible, we use the least invasive surgical techniques to successfully treat patients.

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses a computer console to translate a surgeon’s movements to surgical instruments attached to robotic arms. This method results in faster recover times, less discomfort and minimal scarring.

This traditional form of surgery is used to gain direct access to the necessary structures and organs. Surgeons can see into the body and insert instruments through the incision.

Dr. Edward Lee is one of the finest people I’ve ever met.”
Paul E. FrancisPatient of Dr. Edward Lee, Chief of General Surgery at Albany Medical Center