Medical Articles courtesy of Colorado Surgical Service
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is now the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States and a major cause of death. Lung cancer accounts for 14% of all cancers and 28% of all cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking is responsible for an estimated 87% of lung cancer deaths, or seven out of eight... READ MORE...

Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is at the base of the throat. It has two lobes, one on the right side and one on the left. The thyroid gland makes important hormones that help the body function normally.
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Melanoma
Malignant melanoma, or simply “melanoma”(since there is no benign form of the disease) is not a typical skin cancer but rather a malignant (cancerous) mole. It may arise from a preexisting mole (viz. a junctional or compound nevus) or from a single cell (the melanocyte) in an area of previously appearing normal skin.
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Open Inguinal Hernia Repair
An inguinal hernia occurs when a small portion of bowel bulges out through the inguinal canal into the groin. The bulge usually contains tissue lining the inside of the abdomen and may include fatty tissue from the abdomen or a loop of intestines. There are 2 types of inguinal hernias...
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Ventral Hernia Repair
Incisional, Ventral, Epigastric, or Umbilical hernias are defects of the anterior abdominal wall. They may be congenital (umbilical hernia) or acquired (incisional). Incisional hernias form after surgery through the incision site or previous drain sites, or laparoscopic trocar insertion sites.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the abnormal backflow, or reflux of stomach acid and juices into the esophagus, the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach. This backflow occurs when the valve between the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) does not close tightly enough...
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Laparoscopic Inguinal & Ventral Hernia Repair
Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic) Repair: Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic) Repair has been developed over the past decade. It is usually performed under general anesthesia but spinal anesthesia is also an option. Local anesthesia can be used under special circumstances.
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Parathyroid Disease
Parathyroid glands are small glands of the endocrine system which are normally about the size and shape of a grain of rice. The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly.
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Thyroid Nodules
Your thyroid gland consists of two lobes that resemble the wings of a butterfly. The lobes are separated by a thin section called the isthmus. The thyroid takes up iodine from food you eat and uses it to manufacture two main hormones, thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). These hormones maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate and help regulate the production of protein. Your thyroid gland also produces calcitonin, a hormone that regulates the amount of calcium in your blood.
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Gall Bladder Disease
Because fat cannot be dissolved in water, a special system has evolved for its digestion and its absorption through the intestinal wall. Bile is an essential factor in this, since it contains substances that allow fats to be emulsified. It also stimulates the secretion of an enzyme concerned with the breakdown of fats.
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Diverticular Disease
It’s common for people older than age 50 to have small, bulging pouches (diverticula) in their digestive tracts—a condition known as diverticulosis. Although diverticula can form anywhere, including in your esophagus, stomach and small intestine, most occur in your large intestines.
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Colorectal Cancer
The colon and rectum are part of the digestive tract. Together, they comprise the large intestine, or large bowel, which is located in the abdomen between the small intestine and the anus. Cancer that originates in the colon or rectum is called colorectal cancer.
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Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, often called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum. They may result from straining when having a bowel movement or the increased pressure on these veins during pregnancy. Veins in the anal area are normal but when they enlarge they can cause symptoms and are then called hemorrhoids.
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