Surgical services in Savannah, Georgia

Memorial Health is home to over 30 operating rooms where our surgeons perform life-changing procedures every day. Whether we are performing a simple tonsil removal or a delicate spine surgery, our surgical team uses precision in every surgery they perform.

Our leading-edge surgical services include minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted and laparoscopic procedures.

To learn more about pre-surgical testing, please call (912) 350-8484. To contact the surgery scheduling department, please call (912) 350-8281.

Types of surgery we offer

Our surgeons perform procedures in a wide range of specialties, including:

Breast reconstructive surgery

Our plastic surgery team specializes in multiple forms of breast surgery. Patients with a breast cancer diagnosis may undergo breast reconstructive surgery after surgical treatment, such as a mastectomy. Our surgeons specialize in rebuilding natural-looking breasts that closely match the form, appearance and symmetry of the natural breast.

Our surgeons also perform breast augmentation (mammaplasty) to change the appearance of the breasts. This may include inserting breast implants, removing breast implants, breast reduction and a lift. Breast augmentation is a cosmetic, often elective, procedure that requires major surgery and the skills of a plastic surgeon.

Ear, nose and throat surgery

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons, also known as otolaryngologists, specialize in:

  • Adenoidectomy—This procedure removes the adenoids and can relieve chronic adenoiditis.
  • Balloon sinuplasty—This procedure is used to treat and relieve chronic sinusitis.
  • Endoscopic sinus surgery—This procedure opens up the sinus passages to help them drain properly. This may involve removing blockages or creating new openings within the sinuses.
  • Myringotomy (ear tube placement)—This procedure treats ear infections by placing a small tube in the center of the eardrum to drain fluid and ventilate the area.
  • Tonsillectomy—This procedure removes the tonsils and can relieve chronic tonsillitis.

Eye surgery

Our ophthalmic surgeons specialize in treating disorders affecting the eye(s). Our surgeons perform:

  • Eye evisceration—This procedure removes the eye while leaving the white portion (sclera) and eye muscles in place. After removal, the eye socket can be fitted with a prosthetic eye. This surgery may be needed to treat eye diseases or eye pain if other treatments have failed.
  • Eye trauma surgery—Sometimes, our eye surgeons are needed to treat vision-threatening eye injuries. These may include blunt force injuries, chemical burns, scrapes or scratches and penetrating eye injuries.
  • Pars plana vitrectomy—This is an outpatient procedure to remove the clouded vitreous (clear, jelly-like substance) in the eye and replace it with a salt solution to enhance vision. It can be beneficial in treating diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and holes in the retina.

Gynecologic surgery

Our surgeons are dedicated to treating conditions and disorders of the female reproductive system. Surgical treatments may include:

  • Gynecologic surgical oncology—These procedures treat vulvar, vaginal, cervical, uterine, fallopian tube, ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers.
  • Hysterectomy—This procedure removes the uterus.
  • Oophorectomy—This procedure removes one or both ovaries.
  • Sacrocolpopexy—This procedure treats pelvic organ prolapse in women.
  • Vaginectomy—This procedure removes the vagina and closes its opening.
  • Vulvectomy—This procedure removes part or all of the vulva (the outer portion of the female sex organs).

Head and neck surgery

Our surgeons perform a wide range of head and neck procedures, including:

  • Endoscopic skull base surgery
  • Parotidectomy
  • Partial laryngeal surgery
  • Sentinel node biopsy
  • Surgical oncology treatment for head and neck, oral and throat cancers
  • Surgical treatment for salivary gland problems
  • Surgical treatment for vocal cord paralysis
  • Surgical treatment for voice and swallowing dysfunction
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Trans-oral laser microsurgery
  • Tumor removal surgery for:
    • Head and neck tumors
    • Larynx (voice box) tumors
    • Mouth tumors
    • Parathyroid tumors
    • Throat tumors
    • Thyroid tumors

When to contact a head and neck surgeon

There are a variety of symptoms that may require the expertise of a head and neck surgeon to treat. Some of these common symptoms include:

  • Ear pain that does not go away
  • Frequent choking on food or pain when swallowing
  • Hoarseness or voice change
  • Lip or mouth sore that does not heal
  • Lump in the neck or sensation of a lump in the throat
  • Sore throat or cough that does not go away
  • Trouble breathing and/or noisy breathing
  • Unexplained changes in hair or skin
  • Unusual numbness or pain in the mouth, jaw or neck
  • Weight loss, excessive perspiration, nervousness or heart palpitations with unknown cause
  • White or red patch or lump on the gums, tongue or lining of the mouth

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery focuses on the face, which includes the oral cavity, head, neck, mouth and jaws. We have surgeons that specialize in performing:

  • Mandibular fracture repair—This surgery repairs a break in the lower portion of the jaw, called the mandible. Our surgeons use the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) technique, which helps patients use their jaw very soon after surgery. Many patients prefer the ORIF method over a mandibular repair that requires wiring the jaw shut.
  • Tooth extraction—This procedure involves completely removing a tooth from its socket in the bone. Surgery is commonly needed to remove a tooth that may be stuck between the jaw bone and gum tissue. Wisdom teeth often require surgical extraction to prevent them from impacting other teeth.

Trauma surgery

If you need emergency surgery following a serious accident or injury, our trauma surgeons are trained to provide the fast care you need. As a Level 1 Trauma Center, our emergency room (ER) offers the highest level of care when it comes to treating traumatic injuries.

Our ER is equipped with a dedicated trauma operating room that is accessible 24/7.

Urologic surgery

Our surgeons perform a number of procedures to help patients experiencing problems in the urinary tract or male reproductive system. Urologic surgeries we offer include:

  • Cystourethroscopy—This diagnostic procedure uses a cytoscope, an endoscopic surgical tool, to examine the bladder and urinary tract. The surgeon looks for abnormal tissue, obstructions, tumors and stones. Sometimes, samples of bladder tissue may be removed to check for bladder cancer.
  • Prostatectomy—We offer partial and total prostatectomy surgery. During this procedure, all or part of the prostate gland is removed. A prostatectomy may be an option to treat prostate cancer.
  • Transurethral resection for bladder tumors—This procedure diagnoses and treats bladder cancer. A scope is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. Tissues containing cancer cells can be surgically removed or destroyed using an electric current.

Enhanced Surgical Recovery program

Our Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR) program allows patients to take an active role with the clinical care team. ESR is a proven, research-based method for patients to improve their own overall experience and surgical outcomes. Our ESR program offers many patient benefits, including:

  • Ability to eat sooner after surgery
  • Appropriate management of pain
  • Faster recovery
  • Reduction of nausea symptoms
  • Shorter hospital stay

Outpatient surgery

Many of our surgical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning the patient does not need to stay overnight at the hospital after surgery.

We offer outpatient surgery support through our Day Surgery Center.

Day Surgery Center

The Day Surgery Center at our hospital offers 20 adult patient beds and five pediatric rooms. This is where patients come on the day of surgery for a wide variety of procedures, including laparoscopic surgeries.

While at the Day Surgery Center, patients go through the entire surgical process, from preoperative preparation to recovery. The team at our center includes:

  • Anesthesiologists
  • Child life specialist for pediatric patients
  • Nurses
  • Representative from patient and family centered care
  • Surgeons
  • Technicians
  • Valets to park patient cars

To contact the Day Surgery Center, please call (912) 350-8959.

Special procedures unit

The dedicated special procedures unit (SPU) at our hospital cares for patients on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The SPU provides pre-surgical tests and preparation as well as care before and after surgery.

Our SPU team includes specially trained nurses, endoscopy technicians and anesthesia professionals. Patients may be referred to the SPU for a variety of procedures, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), esophageal and colonic dilation and colonoscopy.

To contact the SPU, please call (912) 350-8184.

Organ donation assistance

Memorial Health partners with LifeLink of Georgia to assist families throughout the organ donation process. Through this partnership, our highly trained surgeons remove donor organs and tissue and prepare them for safe and fast transport to recipients in transplant facilities.