ABOUT
Dr Douglas Ross is an accomplished general surgeon who specialises in endocrine and surgical oncology and laparoscopic procedures.
Dr Ross attained an MBChB and completed his internship and community service at Kimberley Provincial Hospital. He completed his specialist training at the University of the Witwatersrand and obtained his Masters of Medicine. Dr Ross is a Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa. He is passionate about oncology and endocrine surgery and still attends international conferences on this form of surgical expertise.
Suite A14, Life Fourways Hospital, Cnr. Cedar Road & Cedar Avenue West, Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg
Services includes :
- Thyroidectomy & parathyroidectomy
The thyroid is a vital gland that rests at the base of the neck. The thyroid secretes hormones which control neurodevelopment, metabolism and growth. When the thyroid becomes enlarged, it secretes too much of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism triggers heart arrhythmia and weight loss. Thyroid cancer is another issue that requires immediate evaluation and treatment. A thyroidectomy is the removal of a portion or all of the thyroid gland and is necessary to treat goitre (enlarged thyroid) and thyroid cancer. Parathyroid glands are tiny rice-sized glands that secrete PTH, the parathyroid hormone that controls blood calcium levels. When the parathyroid hormone becomes overactive and releases too much PTH, blood calcium levels rise and induce nausea, abdominal and bone pain. - Lymph node surgery
Lymph nodes are small bean-like structures that provide direct access for cancer to enter other areas of the body. Lymph nodes play a role in the filtration of substances in the body and swell when an infection develops. Lymph node surgery is a procedure whereby one or a few lymph nodes are removed. When one or several lymph nodes are removed, cancer is cut off. Dr Ross makes an incision in the affected region and removes a few lymph nodes and nearby tissue for biopsy. - Laparoscopic hernia repair
A hernia occurs when a slice of tissue pushes through a weak region in the muscular wall. Hernias may be classified as inguinal, umbilical or femoral. Laparoscopic hernia repair is less invasive than traditional open procedures and involves a faster recovery. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Dr Ross makes a few, small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a device known as a laparoscope into the abdominal region. Through the use of miniaturised instruments, he pushes the organ or tissue back in place and uses a special mesh to reinforce the weak area. - Endoscopic gastroscopy and colonoscopy
A gastroscopy and colonoscopy are two types of endoscopic procedures. Dr Ross inserts a thin bendable tube known as an endoscope into the digestive tract. For a gastroscopy, he inserts the endoscope into the mouth, oesophagus and small intestine (duodenum). A colonoscopy is a procedure whereby Dr Ross inserts the endoscope into the anus, colon and rectum. It’s through these endoscopic procedures that the doctor can diagnose and treat a range of digestive diseases. - Cholecystectomy
A cholecystectomy is the surgical resection of the gallbladder. Surgery to dissect the gallbladder happens due to the build-up of gallstones or as a result of infection. Dr Ross performs less invasive laparoscopic surgery to remove an infected gallbladder. He inserts a laparoscope into the abdomen and removes the gallbladder. Open surgery is an alternative surgical option for candidates who don't qualify for laparoscopic surgery. Open surgery involves a much larger incision as well as muscle and tissue retraction to reach the gallbladder. - Benign breast surgery
Benign breast conditions include the formation of cysts, lumps and nipple discharge. Although these growths are not cancerous, they need to be removed to prevent further complications in terms of cell alteration. When breast tissue thickens or becomes lumpy, Dr Ross extracts a sample of tissue for biopsy. If the lump is non-cancerous, he will remove it. Still, if the results from the biopsy suggest otherwise, he will refer patients to a multidisciplinary team of experts for breast cancer treatment. - Minor excisions and resections for skin and soft tissue lesions
Excision for skin and benign tissue lesions is the removal of abscesses, seromas, melanomas and sarcomas. A seroma is fluid that accumulates beneath the surface of the skin. An abscess is an accumulation of pus that occurs due to infection or as a result of the skin's exposure to foreign materials. Melanoma starts in the cells responsible for the production of the pigment, melanin which colourises the skin. Dr Ross drains fluid from seromas and abscesses. The surgeon performs minor excision to remove malignant melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma.
