Door County Medical Center General Surgery Clinic

State-of-the-Art Surgical Solutions

Door County Medical Center’s General Surgery Clinic surgeons are highly trained, experienced general surgeons. Caring, professional staff support the team and patients through every operative experience.

Our state-of-the-art surgery department features three operating rooms, individual rooms for admitting and discharging, and a spacious and comfortable recovery room. Four full-time anesthesiologists work directly with patients, unlike at larger hospitals where nurse anesthetists often provide anesthesia care.

State of the Art

Door County Medical Center is one of the top 20 critical access hospitals in the nation. More than a hospital, Door County Medical Center is an integrated health system providing the residents of Door and Kewaunee counties with state of the art technology and procedures.

In the Surgical Services department, we use leading edge technology to improve efficiency and outcomes such as minimally invasive robotic surgery with da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot.

Door County Medical Center is committed to continually bringing the most advanced technology to our community, but we never lose sight of the human connection that makes our hospital special. That's why we are also committed to maintaining high patient experience scores year after year.

Procedures

From minimally invasive hernia repairs to all your GI scoping needs, our General Surgery team has the experience and expertise to get you back to a healthy and happy life.

Key: - Robotic Surgery - Open Surgery

General Surgical Services

General Surgery at Door County Medical Center provides a wide range of surgical services provided by highly trained, experienced general and specialty surgeons.

A laparoscopic appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix. It’s a common emergency surgery that’s performed to treat appendicitis, an inflammatory condition of the appendix.

Colectomy is an operation that removes a portion or all of the large intestine. This can be performed open (large incision in the abdomen) or laparoscopically with or without robotic assistance. Doctors use this procedure to treat inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis and to remove tumors, cancerous or non-cancerous.

A colonoscopy is an exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum. During a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon. A colonoscopy may include a biopsy or polyp removal.

A minimally invasive surgery to remove the gallbladder. Gallstones can cause inflammation, pain or infection. The surgery usually involves a few small incisions, and most people go home the same day and soon return to normal activities.

Surgery to remove hemorrhoids. Incisions are made in the tissue around the hemorrhoid. The swollen vein inside the hemorrhoid is tied off to prevent bleeding, and the hemorrhoid is removed.

A hernia (or bulge) is a weakness or defect in the wall of the abdomen, allowing the contents of the abdomen to push outward. This weakness can be present at birth. More often, it occurs because of the wear and tear of daily living – heavy lifting, shoveling, etc. Hernias are more common in men, but can also affect women and children. They occur at any age. Most hernias are not life threatening. The repair of a hernia will decrease the discomfort you are having with the hernia and prevent the risk of major problems that can occur requiring emergency surgery.

A hernia will not heal on its own. Surgery needs to be done to repair the hernia. The surgery can be done with a laparoscope. This will leave a few small scars on your abdomen done laparoscopically, as compared to the traditional “open” repair, which leaves a longer scar. Most laparoscopic hernias are done robotic-assisted, repaired with mesh and will require a general anesthetic.

Also referred to as diagnostic laparoscopy, is a minimally invasive method diagnosing intra-abdominal diseases. Exploratory laparoscopy also allows tissue biopsy, culture acquisition, and a variety of therapeutic interventions. It may also include small bowel resection and lysis of adhesions

Gastropexy is a surgical operation in which the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall or the diaphragm. Gastropexy is sometimes performed as a treatment of GERD to prevent the stomach from moving up into the chest.

Heller myotomy is a surgical procedure in which the muscles of the esophagus are cut, allowing food and liquids to pass to the stomach.

When you have a paraesophageal hernia, the diaphragm weakens and allows most or all of the stomach to protrude up into the chest, above the diaphragm. Most paraesophageal hernias can be repaired laparoscopically with robot assistance. During the procedure, the stomach is moved back into the abdominal cavity and the diaphragm is closed to prevent the stomach from re-herniating. A special mesh is often used in this repair.

A procedure in which a flexible feeding tube is placed through the abdominal wall and into the stomach to assist in nutritional supplementation when/if you're unable to eat. This procedure is usually done in conjunction with an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) for better visualization and placement of the feeding tube.

With a peritoneal dialysis catheter, dialysis can be performed at home by the patient giving you more freedom and less interruption in daily life.

Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneum (a thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity) as a filter to help remove toxins from the blood that can no longer be cleared by the poorly functioning kidneys. Through minimally invasive surgery, a catheter is placed in the abdominal cavity, permitting dialysis fluid to be instilled into, and then removed from, the abdomen.

The operation typically requires general anesthesia and takes about one hour. Patients can begin to use their new dialysis catheter as soon as the next day if needed.

A PowerPort is a special type of catheter placed underneath your skin. This allows you to receive chemotherapy drugs or antibiotics in a larger vein, assisting in dilution of the medicine and alleviate damage to your smaller vessels.

Including but not limited to sebaceous cysts, lipomas and other skin lesions, like moles.

Heartburn, Reflux and GERD Services

End the discomfort of living with heartburn and acid reflux. The Heartburn & Reflux Center of Door County offers the latest in diagnosis technology and treatment modalities, all at Door County Medical Center.

Esophageal manometry is a test to measure how well the esophagus is working. During the procedure a thin tube is passed through your nose, down the esophagus, and into your stomach.

EGD is an endoscopic procedure that allows your doctor to examine your esophagus, stomach and duodenum (part of your small intestine). EGD is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home that same day. Your EGD may or may not be done using BRAVO® a technology that attaches a small device to the lower part of your esophagus to measure pH levels.

Surgery can repair a hiatal hernia by pulling your stomach back into the abdomen and making the opening in the diaphragm smaller.

A Nissen fundoplication is a surgery to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Your surgeon creates a sphincter (tightening muscle) at the bottom of the esophagus to prevent acid reflux. Most people notice a significant decrease in acid reflux symptoms after the surgery.

Endocrine Surgery Services

The endocrine system is the glands that release vital hormones into the circulatory system. At DCMC we evaluate and treat disorders of the thyroid (thyroid nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer), parathyroid (hyperparathyroidism) and adrenal glands.

An adrenalectomy (uh-dree-nul-EK-tuh-me) is surgery to remove one or both of the adrenal glands. An adrenalectomy is most often done to remove a tumor, address cancer, or to address an adrenal gland that makes too much of certain hormones.

Parathyroidectomy is the surgery to remove one or more of the parathyroid glands in patients who have hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroidectomy is the only definitive treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Thyroidectomy is surgery to remove all or part (partial, subtotal, total) of your thyroid gland. Our surgeons perform thyroidectomies to remove goiters and thyroid nodules and to treat thyroid cancer.

A thyroid FNA biopsy is a procedure that removes a small sample of tissue from your thyroid gland. Cells are removed through a small, hollow needle.

Breast Services

General surgeons at Door County Medical Center work closely with your primary care providers and the Door Cancer Center to make sure your surgical procedure is effective and thorough.

Door County Medical Center offers three types of breast biopsies:

  • Ultrasound Guided Vacuum Assisted Breast Biopsy (VAB) is a safe and minimally invasive procedure in which a sample of breast tissue is removed for testing. The procedure is performed under an ultrasound to make sure the needle is correctly positioned.
  • Stereotactic Breast Biopsy uses mammography to help locate a breast abnormality and remove a tissue sample for examination. Although we've been doing stereotactic biopsies for years, DCMC has been at the forefront of technology, often before the larger tertiary care hospitals. From a prone stereotactic table to a much more comfortable chair with the biopsies being done in the sitting position and, most recently, the adoption of the latest technology from Hologic® – The Brevera® System – the stereotactic cores are imaged in real time after each sample so that the doctor knows immediately that the abnormal calcifications are present. This decreases the time and discomfort of the procedure.
  • Open excisional breast biopsy removes the entire tumor or abnormal area.

Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancerous breast tissue. The procedure preserves the rest of the breast as well as sensation in the breast. It often includes a sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Mastectomy is breast surgery that removes the entire breast when some one cannot be treated with a lumpectomy. It often includes a sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Vascular Services

Varicose veins can be painful and pose risks to your health. If you suffer from varicose veins, talk with your primary care provider about these different treatments.

A hemodialysis access, or vascular access, allows blood to travel through soft tubes to a dialysis machine where it is cleaned. An access is placed via minor surgery through fistula (access made by joining an artery and vein in your arm), graft (access made using a soft tube to joining an artery and vein in your arm) or catheter (a soft tube placed in a large vein, usually your neck).

Venous ligation refers to tying off varicose veins through small incisions made in the skin in the affected areas. Vein stripping is the removal of larger varicose veins in a similar manner. They are performed to treat and reduce the recurrence of varicose veins.

The Venefit™ procedure is a minimally invasive treatment that utilizes radiofrequency energy to contract the collagen in the vein walls, causing them to collapse and seal. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood will re-route itself to other healthy veins.

Several tiny cuts (incisions) are made in the skin through which the varicose vein is removed. Stitches usually are not required.

Learn more about the full range of our Surgical Services

Meet the Team

Our team of professional medical providers have received the highest levels of training, but their passion for patient care is what sets them apart.

Shaun Melarvie, MD
Shaun Melarvie, MD

Specialty

  • General Surgery

Location

Sturgeon Bay

Michael St Jean, MD
Michael St Jean, MD

Specialty

  • General Surgery

Location

Sturgeon Bay

Neil Kleman, DO
Neil Kleman, DO

Specialty

  • General Surgery

Location

Sturgeon Bay

Shannon Gallagher, MD
Shannon Gallagher, MD

Specialty

  • General Surgery

Location

Sturgeon Bay

Mollie Petersen, PA-C
Mollie Petersen, PA-C

Specialty

  • General Surgery

Location

Sturgeon Bay

Contact Us

Talk with your primary care provider about surgical options that may be right for you. Questions? Give us a call at (920) 746-1060.

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