General Surgery

General Surgery At Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital

Boasting two of the newest and one of the largest Operating Suites in the Upper Peninsula, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital’s Dr. Gregory Bambach provides a full-spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures. As head of General Surgery at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Dr. Bambach has been enjoying his growing surgical practice and helping the community. In fact, he is fast becoming the reason why so many have made him their surgeon of choice, in the Upper Peninsula’s south-central region.

A lifelong Michigan resident, Dr. Bambach received his Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, East Lansing and his Medical Degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Bambach also completed his residency at Wayne State University.

Dr. Bambach is board certified in General Surgery and Fellow of The American College of Surgeons. He also serves as Chief of Staff at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.

What Types of General Surgery Do We Offer?

Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital is proud to offer an extensive range of minimally invasive general surgery options to the residents of Manistique. Some of the procedures we offer include:

• Colonoscopy
• EGD (Upper Scope)
• Breast Biopsy
• Breast Cancer (mastectomy, lumpectomy, biopsy)
• Colon Operations
• Lesion removal
• Mediport placement
• PEG tube placement
• Hernia repair (including inguinal, umbilical & ventral)
• Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder) & Appendectomy
• General Abdominal Surgeries
• Salpingectomy (Female Sterilization Procedure)

How to Prepare For General Surgery

The spectrum of general surgery is pretty wide, ranging from minimally invasive colonoscopies to more major abdominal surgeries. Subsequently, the specific preparations that patients should make before their surgery will be unique to their situation. However, here are some commonly suggested things to do before a general surgery.

Make Sure You

• Bring a responsible adult with you to the hospital to assist with transportation and check in
• Have a responsible adult available to pick you up after your surgery and who can stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery
• Wear loose fitting and comfortable clothes that are easy to change in and out of
• Get enough rest before your surgery date
• If you regularly take any medication, ensure you bring it with you so you can continue to take it in hospital

Make Sure You Do Not

• Eat after midnight the night before your surgery. Any undigested food can cause complications during surgery and could result in your surgery being rescheduled.
• Drink any liquids (except for water) after midnight before your surgery. You may drink water up until 2 hours prior to your surgery.
• Do not smoke for 24 hours prior to your surgery
• Wear any makeup to the hospital. The colour of your skin and fingernails can assist the medical staff with certain medical conditions

Anesthesiology

Many surgeries will involve some level of anesthesia to aid in patient comfort and ensure surgeons can operate freely. A CRNA is a highly trained provider that will determine the exact ratios of anesthetic required to render a patient unconscious and monitor their breathing throughout the surgery. Your doctor will ask whether you have experienced any adverse reactions to anesthesia in the past so that the CRNA will be able to find an alternative medicine for your surgery. It is normal to feel disoriented and confused following the initial waking from anesthesia, but this will wear off quickly following your procedure.

How to aid recovery after general surgery

Just like preparation will depend on the specific type of surgery you are getting done, the recovery process will differ based on the procedure as well. There are some general suggestions for speeding your recovery from any kind of surgery, which include:

Ensure you get adequate rest and nutrition with plenty of sleep and regular meals.
Try to keep the surgical site as still as possible during the initial healing stage to limit the possibility of aggravating the wound or dislodging stitches.
Complete any course of antibiotics you have been prescribed in its entirety.
If you have been prescribed pain medication post surgery, try to limit its use unless you are actually in pain to avoid developing a dependence.
If you experience high levels of pain or swelling following your surgery, be sure to contact your doctor immediately

Gregory Bambach, M.D.

Board Certified General Surgeon

A life long Michigan resident, Dr. Bambach received his Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, East Lansing and his Medical Degree from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Bambach also completed his residency at Wayne State University.

Dr. Bambach is board certified in General Surgery. He also serves as Chief of Staff at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital.

• Colonoscopy
• EGD (Upper Scope)
• Breast Biopsy
• Breast Cancer (mastectomy, lumpectomy, biopsy)
• Colon Operations
• Lesion removal
• Mediport placement
• PEG tube placement
• Hernia repair (including inguinal, umbilical & ventral)
• Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder) & Appendectomy
• General Abdominal Surgeries
• Salpingectomy Procedure