General Surgery

Our board-certified general surgeons provide surgical treatment for a wide range of conditions, including abdominal disorders and trauma — such as hernias and endocrine system disorders — and conditions of the breasts, soft tissue and skin. Surgeons at El Camino Hospital’s Los Gatos campus specialize in liver surgery.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Whenever possible, surgeons at El Camino Health use minimally invasive surgical techniques instead of open surgery. Traditional open procedures require a large incision to allow your doctor to gain access to the part of your body requiring treatment. With minimally invasive techniques, your surgery typically involves just one or several small incisions.

During a minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon uses a thin, lighted tube fitted with a tiny camera — called a laparoscope — that provides real-time visualization on a computer monitor. Our surgeons train for many, many hours to become highly adept at manipulating the instruments for exceptional control.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Compared to open surgery, minimally invasive surgery offers the following benefits:

• Greater control and precision for your surgeon.
• Less trauma to your body’s tissues.
• A shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Robotic-assisted surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery. Our surgeons use the da Vinci® Si Surgical System to perform robotic-assisted surgery. The system allows surgeons to perform highly complex, delicate procedures with enhanced precision and dexterity.

Traditional Open Surgery

Not everyone is a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor will discuss the best surgical approaches for your unique condition to help you make an informed decision. Our surgeons are highly experienced in traditional open procedures and perform thousands of these procedures every year.