Mr Giuseppe De Santis
Consultant General and Laparoscopic Surgeon
I see patients from Cheshire, Wales and its adjoining areas.
The NHS side of my practice is based at Leighton Hospital and whereas my private practice in The Nuffield Grosvenor Hospital in Chester and The Spire Regency Hospital in Macclesfield . I see patients from adjoining parts of Cheshire and Wales.
I am accredited with all major private health insurance companies including BUPA, AxaPPP, Aviva and WPA. Once an appointment has been made, pre-authorisation will often be provided by your insurers for the initial appointment. .
Biography
I have an interest in laparoscopic and other ‘minimally invasive’ surgical treatments for a wide range of disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder diseases, inguinal hernia and umbilical hernia. These procedures are performed open or laparoscopically.
I also specialise in UGI tract pathologies as Hiatus Hernia, Dysphagia and conservative/operative management of reflux disease.
Since 2019 I have been a Consultant Surgeon based at Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust, specialised in Laparoscopic general and UGI Surgery. I have performed over 2,000 operations including laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hernia surgery and anti-reflux.
As faculty member of Royal College of Surgeons of London, I was a trainer to the Royal College of Surgeons Core Skills Laparoscopic Surgery and the Surgical First Assistance Operative Procedure
He serves as a consultant at the highly regarded Cheshire Gut Clinic

Conditions treated

Heartburn and Hiatus Hernia
A hiatal hernia happens when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the large muscle that separates the abdomen and the chest. The muscle is called the diaphragm.
The diaphragm has a small opening called a hiatus. The tube used for swallowing food, called the esophagus, passes through the hiatus before connecting to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes up through that opening and into the chest.
A small hiatal hernia usually doesn’t cause problems. You may never know you have one unless your healthcare team discovers it when checking for another condition.
But a large hiatal hernia can allow food and acid to back up into your esophagus. This can cause heartburn. Self-care measures or medicines can usually relieve these symptoms. A large hiatal hernia might need surgery.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the belly (abdomen), beneath the liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid (bile) that’s released into the small intestine.
In most cases, gallstones blocking the tube leading out of the gallbladder cause cholecystitis. This results in a bile buildup that can cause inflammation. Other causes of cholecystitis include bile duct problems, tumors, serious illness and certain infections.
If left untreated, cholecystitis can lead to severe, sometimes life-threatening complications, such as a gallbladder rupture. Treatment for cholecystitis often involves surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Inguinal Hernia
A hernia occurs when tissue from one body cavity bulges through an opening in your muscle wall into another. Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. They happen when abdominal tissue, such as belly fat or a loop of intestines, bulges through an opening in your lower abdominal wall . This is the wall that separates your abdomen from your groin.
Inguinal hernias occur in the inguinal canal, which is a passageway that runs down either side of your pelvis into your sex organs. They’re also called groin hernias. (“Inguinal” means “in the groin.”) They’re the most common type of groin hernia, though not the only type. (Less common are femoral hernias, which happen in the smaller femoral canal that runs underneath the inguinal canal.)
Umbilical Hernia
An umbilical hernia is an unusual bulge you can often see or feel over your belly button (umbilicus). It develops when part of your small intestine, together with fat or fluid, forms a sac. The sac pushes through an opening or weakness in your abdominal wall muscle.
Umbilical hernias are most common in newborns, babies and young children. But adults can get them, too. In adults, untreated umbilical hernias can lead to complications. If your provider has concerns about an umbilical hernia, they may recommend surgery to put the tissue back into place.
Ventral/Midline Hernias
A ventral hernia is a hernia that forms in the abdominal wall, along the midline, due to a weakness in the muscles that creates a gap. Typically, with a ventral hernia, abdominal tissues or a portion of the intestines protrude into the gap. Ventral hernias can occur at any age.
The type of ventral hernia diagnosed is defined based on where the hernia forms:
Incisional hernia: A ventral hernia that develops at a previous incision site.
Epigastric hernia: A ventral hernia that develops within the abdominal area between the bottom of the breast bone and the belly button.
Umbilical hernia : A ventral hernia that develops in the area surrounding the navel or belly button.

Procedures
A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your gallbladder — the small, hollow organ that stores bile for your digestive system. Gallbladder removal surgery is a common treatment for many types of gallbladder disease. This is because the downsides of having your gallbladder removed are generally fewer than those of the diseases it treats. You can live a healthy life without a gallbladder.
Cholecystectomy is a common procedure with a typically easy recovery. It’s also one of the first procedures that’s become routinely performed using minimally invasive surgery techniques. The technique of laparoscopic surgery use very small incisions of a half-inch or less to minimize trauma, pain and recovery time. While an open operation with a larger incision may occasionally be necessary, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is far more common today than open surgery.
You might need gallbladder removal surgery if gallbladder disease:
- Interferes with your quality of life.
- Poses significant risks to your health.
- Is expected to continue and/or get worse.
Laparoscopic fundoplication is a keyhole procedure performed for patients with severe acid reflux, Barrett’s oesophagus and symptomatic hiatus hernias that no longer respond to medication. It is done to prevent acid from the stomach travelling the wrong way into the oesophagus. The operation is predominantly laparoscopic although very occasionally, conversion to open surgery may be necessary.
The procedure involves narrowing the defect through which the oesophagus passes into the stomach (called the hiatus) as well as wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the lower oesophagus (the wrap) to recreate the valve at the lower end of the oesophagus. The wrap itself may be complete or partial depending on the circumstances. The operation takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and is carried out under general anaesthesia.
Overnight hospital stay is to be expected, although some patients can go home on the same day. There are restrictions to food intake for the first few weeks after the operation. Sloppy and pureed food is advised for 6 weeks following the operation. Bread and meat are likely to cause the most trouble and are to be avoided. Dietary advice will be provided before you go home. Anti acid medication can be stopped immediately after the procedure.
Surgery is the most common treatment for a hernia. With a hernia, an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue wall that holds it. Most hernias form in your abdomen or groin. Hernia surgery allows your surgeon to push the organ and herniated tissue back into place and reinforce the barrier holding it there using stitches or surgical mesh.
Another name for hernia surgery is herniorrhaphy.
Who needs hernia repair?
Not all hernias require immediate treatment, but most eventually do since they usually worsen over time. Hernias can create bulges where interior tissue presses outward through a tear or gap in a muscle or tissue wall. They can also cause unpleasant symptoms, like pressure, discomfort or pain. Depending on where your hernia’s located, it can impact other organs and cause complications.
For example, if you have testicles, a hernia can slip past a muscle wall and into your scrotum, causing swelling, pain during sex or other issues.
If a hernia causes symptoms or puts you at risk of a complication, you may need surgery.
What are the types of hernia surgery?
The main types of surgery for hernia are:
Open (traditional) hernia repair surgery: A surgeon makes a single incision (cut) that allows them to operate on the herniated tissue. They put the organs and tissue back into place and use surgical instruments to stitch the tissue back together to make it stronger. Surgeons often use surgical mesh to reinforce the tissue.
Laparoscopic hernia repair surgery: During laparoscopy, or “keyhole surgery,” your surgeon uses several tiny cuts (usually three or four) to operate. Your surgeon inserts a thin tube with a tiny video camera (laparoscope) that projects images of your insides onto a screen. They insert surgical instruments into the other incisions that allow them to repair the hernia.
Following your consultation you may have been informed that you require a procedure called a gastroscopy .
This is when a thin flexible tube called an endoscope is used to view the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Details of any preparation required will be given to you prior your examination. The procedure is minimally invasive, relatively painless and at worst only mildly uncomfortable.
The gastroscopy will be performed in purpose built theatres using technically advanced, state of the art equipment. Your consultant views images produced via video linked screens allowing excellent vision of each area facilitating early, accurate diagnosis of each symptom. You many require sedation.
Following your gastroscopy, you will be taken to recovery to be expertly looked after until you are fully recovered. You will be offered light refreshments prior to going safely home.
A CT (computerised tomography) scan, sometimes also called a CAT scan, takes pictures of the body and uses a computer to put them together. A CT scanner uses X-rays and is a painless procedure. A series of X-rays are taken of your body at slightly different angles, to produce very detailed pictures of the inside of your body. The pictures produced by CT scans provide your consultant with information to him them reach a diagnosis about a variety of conditions. The CT scanner is a large machine. The pictures are taken while you lie on a couch, which moves backwards and forwards through the hole of the machine that is shaped rather like a giant doughnut. The scan may need a contrast dye or substance that improves the picture of certain tissues or blood vessels. This material may be swallowed, given as an enema or injected into the blood stream, depending on the part of your body that is to be scanned.
An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is a medical imaging technique used to create detailed images of the organs and tissues inside the body. It is a powerful diagnostic tool that provides detailed and precise images, aiding in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions.
Ultrasound is like ordinary sound except it has a frequency (or pitch) higher than human beings can hear. When sent into the body from a transducer resting on a patient’s skin, the sound is reflected off internal structures. The returning echoes are received by the transducer and converted by an electronic instrument into an image of the internal structures on a viewing screen. These continually changing images can be recorded on film, paper, videotape, or computer. In an abdominal examination, ultrasound produces images of the major organs, including the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and large blood vessels.
Appointment
Referrals are made to us by your GP or by self referrals. The vast majority of GPs are familiar with us already and may direct you to our unit. However, if they are not familiar with the Cheshire Gut Clinic, you can suggest they consider us, should you wish to be referred to a specialist unit such as ours. Once your NHS or Private GP believes there may be a possibility of a stomach, bowel or liver problem, they may consider that it is more appropriate that you are seen by a gastroenterologist, and this is when the Cheshire Gut Clinic might be considered.
To arrange an appointment at The Nuffield Grosvenor in Chester please call 01244 680444 or click here: Appointment at Nuffield Chester Grosvenor
To arrange an appointment at The Spire Regency in Macclesfield please call or 01625 505412 click here: Appointment at Spire Regency Macclesfield
or email: reenakarima@outlook.com