The Washington University Department of Surgery has played a prominent role in the development of minimally invasive surgery. In 1993, the department helped establish the Washington University Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery (WUIMIS), the first multidisciplinary group in the country formed to advance research, education and patient care in minimally invasive surgery. The department’s surgeons also performed the region’s first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), Nissen fundoplication (for gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD]), Heller myotomy (for achalasia, a swallowing disorder) and adrenalectomy (adrenal gland removal).
In 2007, the Department of Surgery created a Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery. The section is dedicated to developing and adopting the latest technological advancements, training fellows in the rapidly changing field, and advancing research on outcomes, techniques and biomaterials. Its surgeons perform a wide range of laparoscopic and open procedures for gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as swallowing disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), adrenal gland tumors and morbid obesity. The section also collaborates with other disciplines including gastroenterology, transplant surgery and hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery and plays an active role in WUIMIS.
Please browse our website to learn more about the clinical, educational and research activities of our section.