Diseases of the Upper Digestive Tract are common. Conditions like gastroesophageal cancers, peptic ulcer, reflux, esophagitis, achalasia and obesity may require surgical treatment. The Gastroesophageal service provides state-of-art and comprehensive care for patients with the above conditions. The service has established links with specialists from NUH‘s University Digestive Centre and Cancer Centre. The multi-disciplinary Upper GI Tumors Clinic is one of the examples of this approach.

Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Minimally Invasive Surgery has been established in the Department of Surgery for more than a decade. With modern equipment and technology, we perform laparoscopic fundoplication for esophageal reflux, laparoscopic cardiomyotomy for achalasia, laparoscopic resection for benign gastric tumors and laparoscopic placement of gastric band for obesity.

Therapeutic Endoscopy

We provide various endoscopic procedures for gastroesophageal diseases and nutritional access. Endoscopic resection of early gastric and esophageal cancers, dilation for strictures, stent insertion for tumors, and placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or jejunostomy (PEJ) are available.

Open Access Endoscopy

Patients can get direct access to NUH‘s Endoscopy Centre after initial screening by primary physicians. After endoscopy, patients will be sent back to the referring physicians for continual management upon request.

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Surgical Oncology

Gastric and esophageal cancers are common in Singapore. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Our unit performs Japanese-styled radical gastrectomy. Occasionally, the treatment may require opinions from different specialties. In NUH, patients with gastric and esophageal cancers can receive expert care from surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists and radiation oncologists. A Multi-Disciplinary Upper GI Tumour Clinic has been established on every Tuesday afternoon so that patients can be assessed in a single clinic with appropriate specialist in attendance. This approach ensures that patients will receive an efficient and comprehensive health care.

Screening for gastric and esophageal cancers is possible by gastroscopy examination. We provide out-patient endoscopy for this purpose. Patients with strong family history of gastrointestinal cancers may be suitable for screening.