We make sure all our new patients feel welcome, safe, and taken care of. During your first visit, Dr Woon will have a chat with you regarding your medical history. It will be followed by a physical examination and a review of all your medical test. From there, a provisional diagnosis will be determined and further investigations or treatment options will be discussed with you. Patients are encouraged to ask questions. Treatment plans will be made together by yourself and Dr Woon.
Hernia is a very common problem. It is due to the protrusion of abdominal contents through a weakness in the abdominal wall. This will result in a lump which can be seen or felt. Occasionally, the lump can reduce “disappear” by itself. Hernias usually appears around the groin or umbilical region. Treatment of choice is a surgical repair and can be done with the traditional open technique or minimally invasive technique (also known as keyhole or laparoscopic repair).
Gallstones is present in 20% of the population. It may cause no signs or symptoms. Symptoms of gallstones may include pain, bloatedness, nausea and vomiting. If not treated, complications of gallstones may occur such as cholecystitis, pancreatitis and cholangitis. Treatment is to surgically remove the whole gallbladder. Laparoscopic (key hole surgery) cholecystectomy is the current treatment of choice.
Liver cancers can be primary or secondary. Primary cancer refers to tumours which originates from the liver. Secondary cancers refers to cancers which originates from other organs but has spread to the liver. Treatment of liver tumours requires a specialist in liver surgery as part of a multidisciplinary team. Liver surgery can be done in the traditional open approach or minimally invasive techniques.
Pancreatic cancer is not a common malignancy in the world. However, it is ranked high in cancer related deaths. Some cystic tumours of the pancreas have malignant risk and these are becoming more common recently because patients are having more radiological scans for various reasons. Pancreatic surgery is complex and technically demanding. Whipples’ operation, pancreaticoduodenectomy, distal pancreatectomy, spleen preserving pancreatectomy are just a few of many different names used to describe pancreas surgery. It is best to consult a specialist in pancreatic surgery if one has any concerns. Pancreatic surgery can be done in an open technique, laparoscopic or robotic surgery.
The bile duct drains bile from the liver into the duodenum (part of the gastrointestinal tract). Patients with bile duct obstruction usually presents with pain, fever and jaundice. Causes of biliary obstruction could be benign or malignant. Benign causes are usually gallstones. Malignant causes could be cancer of the bile duct or cancer of the head of the pancreas. Normal bile duct is usually 4 to 8mm in size. Surgery involving the bile duct is technically challenging especially when reconstruction is required. Surgery can be done in the traditional open approach, laparoscopic or robotic surgery.
