Endoscopy Perth | General surgery Perth

Endoscopy and general surgery: What you need to know

“If you’re dealing with ongoing discomfort, digestive issues, hernias, or reflux, you don’t need to put up with it. From diagnostic endoscopy to minimally invasive surgeries, I offer treatments to help you feel healthier, stronger, and get back to enjoying life.”

Bill Gong

General Surgeon Perth

Colonoscopy Perth | Gastroscopy Perth

What is an endoscopy?

Endoscopy is a simple procedure that helps us figure out what’s going on with your digestive system. Whether it’s reflux, bloating, or changes in bowel habits, an endoscopy can provide answers and help guide the next steps.

Endoscopy involves a thin, flexible tube (called an endoscope) with a tiny camera at the end. It’s carefully passed through the mouth (for a gastroscopy) or the bottom end (for a colonoscopy) while you’re comfortably sedated. The camera sends live images to a monitor, allowing us to check for normal or post surgical anatomy as well as assess any issues like inflammation, ulcers, polyps or abnormal growths.

The procedure is quick—usually taking 10 to 20 minutes—and most people don’t remember a thing.

Gastroscopy

What is it for?

A gastroscopy examines your oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine to investigate symptoms such as:

Heartburn or anti reflux
Persistent nausea or vomiting
Difficulty swallowing
Upper abdominal pain

Why it’s important: Gastroscopy helps diagnose and manage conditions like gastritis, ulcers, and oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It also help me to determine your anatomy prior to any stomach related surgeries or if you have had previous surgeries.

How it works:

You’ll need to fast for about 6 hours beforehand (no food or drinks) so the stomach is clear.
You’ll receive light sedation to help you relax, so you’re comfortable throughout.
I’ll gently pass the endoscope through your mouth and down into your stomach. The camera allows me to look for issues like ulcers, inflammation, or signs of reflux.

A gastroscopy is very quick—usually under 10 minutes—and you’ll be monitored as you wake up. Some people experience a mild sore throat afterward, but this usually passes quickly.

Colonoscopy

What is it for?

A colonoscopy looks at your large intestine (colon) and rectum. It’s the gold standard for detecting bowel issues like:

Bowel cancer or precancerous polyps
Chronic inflammation (e.g., colitis)
Unexplained changes in bowel habits

Why it’s important: Early detection of bowel cancer can save lives, making colonoscopy a crucial tool for prevention and diagnosis.

How it works:

You’ll follow clear instructions to prepare your bowel the day before, including drinking a special solution to “clean out” your system.
On the day of the procedure, you’ll receive light sedation to help you relax and feel comfortable.
We’ll guide the endoscope gently through your colon, checking for any abnormalities or changes. If we find anything, such as polyps, we can often remove them during the procedure. This procedure usually takes about 20 minutes.

You’ll wake up in recovery feeling groggy but fine—and most importantly, you’ll hopefully have some answers about your health.

Gallbladder surgeons Perth

Gallbladder surgery

Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation are more common than you might think—and they can cause quite a bit of pain, especially after a large or fatty meal.

Signs that gallbladder surgery may help include:

Cramping pain in the epigastric area (under the ribs in the upper abdomen)
Nausea or vomiting, often after fatty foods – can be confused with reflux…
Feeling bloated or uncomfortable

We perform keyhole (laparoscopic) gallbladder removal, meaning smaller incisions, quicker recovery, and less disruption to your daily life. Most patients are back on their feet and feeling much better within a couple of weeks.

Hernia surgeon Perth

Hernia repair

Hernias don’t fix themselves — and if left untreated, they can get worse over time. If you’ve noticed a bulge, discomfort, or pain, you may need surgical fixation.

Common types of hernias:

Ventral hernias – occur in the abdominal wall, often at the site of a previous surgery or due to weakness in the muscles, and can increase in size over time.
Inguinal – often in the groin area, common in both men and women
Femoral hernias – occur lower in the groin area, where the femoral artery passes into the thigh, more common in women, especially after pregnancy.
Umbilical hernias – near the belly button, sometimes appearing after pregnancy or strenuous workout or manual labour.
Hiatal hernias – these can cause reflux and discomfort in the chest.
Epigastric hernias – appear in the upper abdomen along the midline, often involving fatty tissue pushing through the abdominal wall.
Spigelian hernias – develop along the edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, typically in the lower abdomen, and may present with less obvious external bulges.

Whilst we do use “open” techniques for some types of hernias, laparoscopic repair is suitable especially for inguinal hernias; we can use a few small incisions, we insert a tiny camera (laparoscope) and specialised tools to repair the hernia and reinforce the area with mesh if needed. This approach offers:

Less wound discomfort because of smaller scars
A quicker return to light activities
Less longer term complications like infections or recurrences.

Hernia repair is a straightforward procedure, and for most people, it means getting back to work, exercise, and daily life without pain.

Anti reflux surgery Perth

Anti reflux surgery

Constant reflux or heartburn (known as GORD) can really impact your day-to-day life—whether it’s waking up in the night, avoiding certain foods, or just that persistent discomfort.

If medication hasn’t helped, anti-reflux surgery might be the answer.

Laparoscopic Hiatus Hernia Repair which repairs the defect where your stomach migrates to the area just behind your heart (Mediasternum) and the natural barrier (the diaphragm muscles) that helps to control reflux render ineffective.

Symptoms that surgery can help with include:

Frequent or severe heartburn
Food or acid regurgitation
Pain; short of breath, post meal “heaviness”
Throat irritation, coughing, or difficulty swallowing

It’s a minimally invasive procedure, meaning small incisions and a quicker recovery. It normally takes a decent 4-6 weeks to fully recover from hiatus hernia repair but once you do; you can get back to living and sleeping without worrying about reflux.