General and Digestive Surgery
In accordance with the definition of the specialisation, the competence of General and Digestive Surgery is the surgical, elective and urgent pathology of diseases of the digestive system, the abdominal wall, the endocrine system, the breast, the skin and the soft tissue, the retroperitoneum and the external pathology of the head and neck. The professional team is divided into subspecialties, which means our professionals have a high degree of knowledge in various specific areas.
This specialisation in the field of healthcare, and also in research and teaching, are key to offering the best service and to continue being a reference in the sector. Our teams are accredited by external, autonomous, state and international agencies that support our excellent results in the treatment of different diseases.
Units making up the Department
The department is divided into four independent sub-units, each of which is a benchmark in its sub-speciality:
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit
- Endocrine, Metabolic, and Bariatric Surgery unit
- Oesophagogastric Surgery unit
- Abdominal wall surgery unit
Additionally, our team of professionals are also members of various multidisciplinary teams, such as the Breast Pathology and Gynaecological Oncology Surgery units, both part of the Gynaecology Department. This multidisciplinary working method, together with our high level of specialisation, allow us to offer our patients the highest quality care.
This department carries out activity across several areas: hospitalisation, emergencies, outpatient consultations and in local primary care centres and in the Chafarinas primary care centre: Major outpatient surgery is carried out at the Pere Virgili Health Park, as well as minor surgery that does not require hospitalization.
The Surgical Block, which opened in 2016, means we can work in integrated operating theatres equipped with all the latest technology, which guarantees the highest quality and safety in surgeries, ultimately leading to the best quality of care for our patients. In this context, we are pioneers in minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
Healthcare activity
Research
The General Surgery Department is part of the VHIR General Surgery Research Group, as recognised by the Catalan government's University and Research Grant Management Agency (AGAUR) (2017 SGR 1476).
Teaching
At Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, we have a teaching unit that trains postgraduate students in general and digestive surgery. We regularly organise ongoing training courses accredited by the Catalan Council for Continuing Education of Health Professions.
In the university sphere, we are strongly involved in teaching the degree in Medicine at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Teaching Unit of the Faculty of Medicine and the Doctoral Programme in Surgery and Morphological Sciences of the Department of Surgery of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Both degrees have been accredited with the mention ‘In progress towards excellence’ by the AQU Catalunya (bachelor’s degree in Medicine, 2017 and doctoral degree in Surgery, 2022).
