General Surgery at UPMC in Central Pa.

The general surgeons at UPMC Central Pa. combine the personalized care of a regional hospital with the advanced technology of a large health system to get you back on your feet as safely and quickly as possible.

Why choose us for your general surgery?

In addition to performing traditional open surgical procedures, our surgeons use the latest laparoscopic and robotic techniques to promote healing, minimize discomfort and reduce the risk of post-surgical complications.

UPMC in Central Pa. is committed to keeping you safe and providing you with top-notch, quality care. We have been ranked nationally among some of the top hospitals in the country for high performance in a variety of surgical procedures. 

Services We Offer

Our top priority is your safety and well-being. If you require general surgery, you can rest assured that our surgeons will provide customized, convenient care close to home. We provide surgical care for a range of common and complex conditions, including:

• Bariatric surgery. If you've struggled with obesity—and diet and exercise haven't worked—you're not alone. Whether you need help making dietary and lifestyle changes, or are considering a life-changing weight loss procedure, we can help put you on the path to success.
• Biliary surgery. Biliary surgery can involve the removal of your entire gallbladder, or a tumor, gallstone or other blockage from your bile duct, which connects your liver to your gastrointestinal tract. The operation is usually performed using laparoscopic, robotic or traditional open surgical techniques.
• Colon, rectal and bowel surgery. Our skilled surgeons perform common and complex surgical procedures to treat conditions of the colon, rectum and bowel. Two of the most common minimally invasive surgeries we perform are removing cancerous and non-cancerous tumors and treating diverticulitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the colon.  It is recommended that adults over the age of 50 have a colonoscopy every 10 years to check for growths in the colon or rectum that could be cancerous or precancerous. Learn more and  see if you are eligible to schedule your colonoscopy without a referral. 
• Endocrine surgery. Endocrine surgery treats diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. Many endocrine surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive techniques.
• Endoscopy of the upper and lower digestive tract. Endoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look for tumors, bleeding, infection or other abnormalities inside your body using a small lighted tube with a camera, called an endoscope. During an upper digestive tract endoscopy, the endoscope is inserted through your mouth. The endoscope is inserted through your rectum during a lower digestive tract endoscopy. 
• Gastric surgery. Our general surgeons perform gastric surgery to treat conditions affecting the stomach, such as cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
• Hernia surgery. Hernias occur when part of your intestine or abdominal fatty tissue bulges out through an opening in your abdominal wall. Our surgeons provide expert surgical care for all types of hernias and use minimally invasive approaches whenever possible to help you recover faster.
• Liver surgery. Our general surgeons perform a range of procedures to treat cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the liver. We perform full and partial liver resections, biopsies and procedures to remove cysts, adenomas and hemangiomas.
• Pancreatic surgery. Pancreatic surgery usually involves removing the diseased parts of your pancreas, but surgery also can be performed to drain fluid or open the pancreatic duct. Our skilled surgeons use laparoscopic and traditional open surgery to treat benign and cancerous pancreatic tumors and severe cases of pancreatitis, which causes inflammation that can lead to tissue damage or infection.
• Vascular surgery. Our vascular program provides leading-edge treatment for all types of vascular disease including peripheral arterial disease and varicose veins. Our team also focuses on dialysis access for patients using grafts, fistulas, and catheters.
• Other surgical procedures our skilled general surgeons perform include the removal of hemorrhoids, lipomas, skin tags and other skin lesions. The majority of these type of procedures can be done in the office. 

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our surgeons use the latest minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques whenever possible and combine their skills and expertise with the most advanced technology to deliver the best outcomes.

During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon will make several small incisions around the affected area and insert a camera called a laparoscope into one of the incisions. The camera will allow your surgeon to see inside your body and maneuver tiny surgical tools that will be inserted through the other small incisions. 

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery also uses several small incisions and camera to project images onto a computer screen. However, the robotic surgery camera provides a high-definition, magnified, 3D view instead of a 2D image. Robotic surgical systems also feature tiny “wristed” instruments that offer a greater range of motion and increased precision when compared to laparoscopic instruments.

Recovery times for laparoscopic and robotic surgery vary depending on the severity of your condition and the affected area of your body. However, studies have shown that patients who have laparoscopic and robotic surgery recover faster, have a lower risk of complications and experience less discomfort, blood loss and scarring than patients who undergo traditional open surgery. 

Our General Surgery Team

Our world-class general surgery team will provide you with compassionate care from pre-op through recovery. Our board-certified surgeons, anesthesiologists and specially trained nurses are passionate about making sure you have the best care in the safest environment.

Take the next step

For more information or help locating a general surgeon near you, call us at (717) 231-8900 to speak with one of our customer service representatives.

Providers

• Find a UPMC General Surgery Provider in Central Pa. 

Locations 

Annville

Carlisle

Hanover

Harrisburg

Lancaster

Lemoyne

Lititz

Mechanicsburg

Newport

Shippensburg

York