Outstanding surgeons. Outstanding care.

You may see them in the produce section at the grocery store, biking around the lake, or out for dinner at one of our wonderful local restaurants. They are our board-certified general surgeons, performing thousands of procedures every year along with their associate providers caring for you, too!

General surgery is the specialty focused on diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions, involving a wide range of operations. The surgeries can include planned surgeries, such as repairing hernias or removing gallbladders, as well as emergency procedures, like removing an inflamed appendix. They also do thyroid and breast surgery related to a cancer diagnosis. And when you’re due for screening for colon cancer, or need a diagnostic colonoscopy or endoscopy, they’re your go-to experts for those procedures as well.

When you learn that you need a General Surgery procedure, it’s good to know that you’re in good hands at Winona Health! Our caregivers track and analyze data to ensure top-quality care and engage in clinical research. But most important, they are committed to providing personalized care to get each of their patients back to good health.

Learn more about Dr. Broghammer, Dr. Kennedy, and Dr. Trail; and certified physician assistants, Holly Engler and Karen Perkins.

Looking for solutions? A consultation with a General Surgeon may be just what you need.

Like having a cavity taken care of before it turns into the need for a root canal, sometimes an elective surgery can prevent a condition from getting more troublesome, or, worse yet, turning into an emergency.

Did you know your local general surgeons can help you decide whether to take a wait-and-see approach or try other options before considering surgery?

These are just some of the issues you should consult one of our General Surgeons about:

An appendectomy is surgery to remove your appendix, which is a small organ attached to your large intestine. When your appendix is infected, inflamed or swollen (appendicitis) it may burst and leak harmful bacteria into your stomach. A burst appendix is a medical emergency. Symptoms of appendicitis include pain in the lower right part of your abdomen (belly).

The General Surgery Department offers comprehensive management of breast diseases including benign breast lumps, breast pain, breast cysts and breast cancer. The surgeons at Winona Health work closely with radiologists and oncologists to provide a multidisciplinary approach to breast diseases that includes the latest in breast imaging, digital mammography, ultrasound and biopsy techniques. Our breast cancer care includes sentinel lymph node technology.

The General Surgeons at Winona Health provide surgical care for a number of cancers. Some malignancies that are routinely managed include breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, thyroid cancer and skin cancer.  The surgeons work closely with radiologists, oncologists, and other disciplines to provide comprehensive care. All three surgeons also participate in a monthly cancer care conference and collect prospective data to ensure high-quality, up-to-date practice patterns.

If you have pain, tingling, numbness or a burning sensation in your thumb and fingers, it could mean carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is an area within your wrist surrounded by ligaments and bones. Carpal tunnel surgery alleviates carpal tunnel syndrome.

The removal of your gallbladder is called cholecystectomy. Your gallbladder is a small organ under your liver on the upper right side of your abdomen (belly). The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive juice that’s made in the liver. You may need gallbladder surgery if you develop painful gallstones or if your gallbladder isn’t working as it should. Symptoms of a problem with your gallbladder may include sharp pain in the upper right abdomen, frequent indigestion, heartburn and gas. Other symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and eyes, low fever, nausea and bloating.

Your gallbladder is a small organ under your liver. Its purpose is to store the bile produced by your liver. That bile, used to digest fats, travels through your bile ducts into your gallbladder. It’s possible for mall stones can form in the gallbladder.

Sometimes there are no symptoms of having gallstones. But sometimes a stone can move somewhere and cause intense pain (IYKYK), and sometimes gallstones can lead to inflammation of the gallbladder.

Gallstones are common, and treatment is typically only necessary if gallstones are causing pain or discomfort dues to inflammation or pancreatitis. If you have painful gallstones or other gallbladder-related problems, gallbladder removal is a common procedure. After gallbladder removal, your liver still produces bile to digest food, but rather than be stored in the gallbladder, it will be distributed continuously onto your small intestine.

We offer hemorrhoid surgery including use of the “harmonic scalpel” or ultrasound knife, and “banding” of hemorrhoids.

We offer the latest techniques in the repair of inguinal (groin) hernias, abdominal hernias and diaphragm hernias. This often includes minimally invasive (laparoscopic) techniques and use of cutting-edge mesh and biologic prosthetic materials. We strive to make recovery time as short as possible and minimize post-operative pain.

Could it be a hernia? What you should know.

Intestinal surgery involves your digestive tract. This includes your colon, also known as the large bowel or large intestine, and the small intestine, which is the tubular passage between your stomach and large intestine. Sometimes a disease or a blockage in your intestine requires surgery.

GERD is caused when the valve between your esophagus and stomach isn’t working properly. It can result in acid flowback into the esophagus. A symptom of this is commonly called heartburn.

GERD is common. About 10% of Americans deal with daily symptoms or take medications to manage the symptoms. But sometimes medications no longer work or GERD leads to a more serious condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus can progress to esophageal cancer. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to consult your doctor or a surgeon for an assessment.

There are surgical procedures available to help manage heartburn and acid reflux. The surgeons at Winona Health are trained in the management of reflux disease to include upper endoscopy and comprehensive pre-operative evaluation. Winona Health offers “incisionless” endoscopic surgery for reflux, as well as laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for management of reflux.

Depending on the patient and the procedure, some surgeries at Winona Health are now done with the assistance of a robotic device. Your surgeon is still the person controlling the robot, but robotic-assisted surgery combines our surgeons’ knowledge and skill with the advantages of today’s technology. For example, in addition to having a 3-dimensional camera providing a highly detailed view of very small or difficult to see structures in the body, the robot’s “fingers” can move in ways that human fingers cannot. Your surgeon will talk with you about using the surgical robot if it’s an option for your procedure.

Robotic-assisted Surgery Q&A

The field of surgery has evolved through the years, from the days when the only option was an open surgery (which requires large incisions), to the advancement of laparoscopic procedures and now, robotic-assisted surgery.

For those interested in learning more, here are some frequently asked questions about robotic surgery. If you have additional questions, please let us know – we’re here to answer them.

Q: When did Winona Health add robotic-assisted surgery capabilities?
A: Winona Health brought robotic surgery technology to the Winona community in January 2023.

Q: Why did Winona Health invest in this technology?
A: Surgery across the field is becoming less invasive, and robotic-assisted surgery is the technology that is making that possible. Robotic assisted surgery has been around for almost 25 years and for many surgeons is part of the training they receive during residency. For patients, the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery include reduced pain, lower risk of infection, less blood loss, less scarring and a faster return to normal activities. Winona Health is committed to using resources wisely and investing in technology that benefits our community so people can receive as much of their care as possible right here.

Q: Does the robot perform surgery?
A: No. With robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon is still in control of the entire procedure. The robotic technology is impressive, but it takes the skill of our highly trained and knowledgeable surgeons to put that technology to use to benefit patients.

Q: What does robotic-assisted surgery really mean?
A: Think of the surgical robot as an extension of the surgeon’s hands. The robot provides all the dexterity of a human hand and does exactly what the surgeon makes it do. It mimics their hand movements. Because the robotic tools are so much smaller, it allows the surgeon to perform the surgery through very small incisions.

The robotic tools include a camera that gives the surgeon a high-definition, 3-dimensional view of the surgical site, which allows them to see exactly what they need to see in incredible detail. And an extra “arm” provides an additional tool – like giving the surgeon control of an extra hand. In the simplest example, it’s like being able to put your own finger on the knot when you’re trying to tie a ribbon tight around a gift.

Q: When is robotic-assisted surgery used?
A: It depends on each patient’s specific circumstances. Any time a patient needs surgery, we’re thinking about the best way to approach the procedure for that patient. Sometimes that means using the robot, sometimes that means doing an open surgery, sometimes that means doing a traditional laparoscopic surgery. But our goal is always the same – and that’s to have the best possible outcome and the quickest recovery for the patient.

  • Colonoscopy
  • Manometry
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Winona Health General Surgeons have extensive experience in thyroid surgery, which can include removal of part or all of the thyroid gland. We can manage thyroid lumps, cysts, goiters or cancers.

Varicose veins are swollen or twisted veins visible under the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are most common in your legs, but can occur in other areas. Varicose veins are common and usually do not cause medical problems. However, in some cases they can cause pain, blood clots or skin ulcers. Treatment is intended to relieve symptoms, prevent complications and improve appearance.

Enjoy winter foods without the heartburn

Elizabeth Iverson, RDN, LDN

Winter brings cozy nights with hearty meals, warm beverages, and plenty of comfort food. But if you suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), it can be tough to enjoy seasonal treats without discomfort. Whether you’re indulging in your favorite hotdish, a slice of warm apple pie, or Super Bowl snacks, a few simple adjustments to your diet and habits will allow you to savor the flavors of the season without experiencing heartburn.

For more information

General Surgery
Winona Health, Clinic 2nd Floor
855 Mankato Avenue
Winona, MN 55987
507.457.7670
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.