Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery

Surgeons at Northwest Texas Healthcare System specialize in innovative and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Minimally invasive surgery can make surgery and recovery easier on patients.* Surgeons offer minimally invasive surgery in addition to standard, open procedures, depending on your diagnosis and needs.

Find a Surgeon

To find a surgeon or other type of physician affiliated with Northwest Texas Healthcare System, contact our free physician referral service at 800-887-1114 or search online.

Northwest Surgical Hospital

The Northwest Surgical Hospital brings together some of Amarillo’s finest nurses, surgical technicians and physicians. The team provides a convenient and affordable alternative for patients requiring general, routine surgical services. We have been serving residents of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle since 1998. We are proud to offer specialty services in a comfortable facility for adults and children.

Learn more about Northwest Surgical Hospital →

Robotic Surgery*

Robotic procedures may result in a faster recovery and less time in the hospital. Robotic surgery is a method in which the procedure is performed using small tools attached to a robotic arm. The surgeon controls the arm with a computer.

Small incisions are made to insert the instruments into your body. A thin tube then has a camera attached to the end of it. This camera enables the surgeon to view enlarged 3-D images of the body. The robot matches the doctor's hand movements in surgery.

Learn more about Robotic Surgery →

Surgical Specialties

General Surgery

doctors performing surgery

Surgeons at Northwest Texas Healthcare System perform general surgeries to treat a variety of conditions including:

  • Simple and complex hernias
  • Gastrointestinal problems such as peptic ulcer disease, colon cancer, anorectal disorders, hemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel disease
  • Diseases of the gallbladder, pancreas and liver
  • Benign and malignant disease of the breast

Go Clear Award™

Northwest Texas Healthcare System (NWTHS) earned the Go Clear Award™ for its achievement in eliminating hazardous smoke from its surgical procedures. 

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Bariatric Surgery (for Weight Loss)

If you are among the millions of Americans struggling with their weight, Northwest Texas Healthcare System is here for you. The bariatric program offers weight-loss surgery to help people lose weight and improve their health. Bariatric surgeons specialize in both standard and minimally invasive techniques.

Our weight-loss surgery program has been accredited as a Level 2-New Accredited Bariatric Center. Accreditation is through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

Learn More About Weight-Loss Surgery

Head and Neck Surgery

Conditions of the head and neck can be some of the most challenging to treat. Among the head and neck procedures performed by surgeons at Northwest Texas Healthcare System are:

  • Maxillofacial and Reconstructive Surgery: This includes treatment of patients with abnormalities of the face and mouth. Surgeons can treat issues caused by birth defects (such as cleft palate) or accidents. They also specialize in the removal of tumors in the tissues of the mouth. Surgeons also perform procedures to reshape the nose or jaw to improve appearance and function.
  • Oncology (Cancer) Surgery: This includes treatment of cancer of the head and neck. Treatment may involve surgery plus radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
  • Plastic Surgery: This is similar to reconstructive surgery, except that the surgery is often done for cosmetic purposes.

Neurosurgery

More than 5,500 patients come to the Northwest Texas Healthcare System Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery each year. We are proud to offer our patients comprehensive neurological care. The team treats neurological problems from chronic back pain to rare brain tumors.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System is the first in the region to perform neurosurgery procedures using the StealthStation™ S8. StealthStation™ S8 is a surgical navigation system designed to help surgeons perform more accurate procedures in the operating room. Surgical navigation is key to offering enriched visual and quantified information to a surgeon during neurosurgery. This allows for accurate tool localization and possible avoidance of key anatomical areas of the brain.

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Orthopedic Surgery

The orthopedic surgeons use advanced techniques and technology to diagnose and treat injuries and disorders involving joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Conditions include knee ligament injuries, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fractures.​ Surgeries performed include:

  • Hip, knee and shoulder total joint replacement
  • Hand, shoulder and elbow surgery
  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Surgery for traumatic injuries

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Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgery is a treatment for people with disorders of the circulatory system. These disorders fall into two broad categories: atherosclerosis, which affects the arterial system, and thrombophlebitis, which affects the venous system.

The past decade has seen numerous diagnostic and surgical technological advances in the treatment of vascular problems. These technologies include ultrasound enhancement, angioplasty, stenting devices and improved imaging techniques. The vascular disease process involves multiple systems of the body. Therefore, the care team often requires the combined efforts of a surgeon, radiologist and internist.

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COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Pre-Operative Patients

Patients are required to have COVID-19 testing prior to a procedure. Hospital surgical staff will continue to wear appropriate PPE to protect themselves regardless of a patient's vaccination status.

*Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive and robotic surgery are right for you.