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Specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, surgeon Michael Zenilman, M.D., chair of the Depar tment of Surger y at NewYork-Presby terian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, works with patients to manage chronic conditions and improve their overall qualit y of life. Test your knowledge about GI surger y by taking the quiz below. Which of the following conditions is considered a disorder of the gastrointestinal system? a. Colon cancer b. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) c. Hernia d. Pancreatitis e. All of the above Answer: e. Gastrointestinal disorders include a wide variety of conditions that may be divided into two main categories, functional and structural disorders. Functional disorders occur when the GI tract is not working properly. Structural disorders may involve an abnormality in the appearance of the intestines, as well as in their function. Gastrointestinal Solutions Through Surgery Which conditions may be curable through surgery? a. Colon cancer b. Complications from obesity c. Gallbladder disease d. All of the above Answer: d. Surgeons perform many gastrointestinal procedures with the goal to cure specific conditions. In some cases, the patient may also need follow-up care, such as chemotherapy or radiation. "Following surgery, even locally advanced colon cancer can be cured. For benign diseases like diverticulitis and gall bladder pain, surgery should be curative," Dr. Zenilman says. "In patients with morbid obesity, complications such as diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea can be cured by surgery and long-term therapy." What are some of the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to address gastrointestinal conditions? a. Faster recovery time b. Less pain c. Reduced scarring d. All of the above Answer: d. Patients experience several benefits from minimally invasive procedures, including the ability to return to their daily activities quickly. General surgeons may employ minimally invasive techniques for procedures such as gallbladder removal, obesity surgery, surgery for esophageal reflux and tumor removal. Fact or fiction: Surgeons will not perform bariatric procedures on patients in their 60s or 70s. Answer: Fiction. A bariatric procedure may be an effective option for older adults who need to lose weight for their health but have not been successful with nonsurgical options like diet and exercise. True or false: If a general surgeon performs open surgery to address cancer in the abdomen, the disease is more likely to spread. Answer: False. "There is a misconception out there that exposing cancer to open air will cause the cancer to spread, but that is not true," Dr. Zenilman says. "While minimally invasive surgery results in smaller incisions, we still sometimes need to perform open surgery to achieve effective and lasting results." F IN D A D O C T O R 718 . 49 9.C A R E ( 2 27 3 ) 29 H E A LT H Q U I Z