Recent Progress in Gastrointestinal Surgery

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the organ system comprising of the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines as well as the liver, pancreas and gallbladder. This system is responsible for the ingestion, digestion and absorption of food and its nutrients. Various disorders and conditions affect the gastrointestinal tract such as inflammations, infections and cancer. Many of these conditions require surgery. Gastrointestinal surgery can be upper or lower GI surgery. Upper GI surgery is characterized by its complexity and may include procedures such as liver resection, pancreaticoduodenectomy and esophagectomy. Lower GI surgery is performed on the lower GI tract, and includes surgical procedures performed on the small intestine, rectum, anus and colon. Some of the common procedures included in lower GI surgery are colectomy and colorectal surgery. This book contains some path-breaking studies in gastrointestinal surgery. Also included herein is a detailed explanation of the various surgical techniques and procedures employed in the management of GI disorders. The topics covered herein offer the readers new insights in gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery.