General surgery can be performed on almost any area of the body. A general surgeon is a physician who performs surgery and provides preoperative, operative, and postoperative care to surgical patients. This surgeon can treat diseases, injuries or deformities by surgery or minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopy, where a tiny scope is used to view internal organs or structures. The endoscope can be used during operating procedures, or before surgery, to diagnose, assess and treat problem areas.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are breast disease, thyroid disorders, hernia, breast cancer, Crohn's Disease, cystic fibrosis, Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, lymphoma, Chronic renal failure, Morbid obesity, Adhesions, Colorectal cancer, Hirschsprung's disease, Volvulus, Thyroid cancer, Kidney cancer, Metastatic disease, Toxic megacolon, and Meckel's diverticulum.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including microsurgery, mastectomy, laser surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, breast reconstruction, breast surgery, thyroid surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, da Vinci Surgical System, Bypass Surgery, robotic surgery, Resection, Liver transplant, Whipple procedure, Kidney transplant, Bariatric surgery, Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy, cryosurgery, and abdominal surgery.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including endoscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), x-ray, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), biopsy, Cardiac Stress Test, Lower GI (Barium Enema), Upper GI (Barium Swallow), and fecal occult bloodtest.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Colorado has 401 practicing general surgeons. Broken out by city, general surgery doctor density in Alamosa is 4, in Antonito is 1, in Arvada is 1, in Aspen is 2, in Aurora is 34, in Boulder is 13, in Breckenridge is 3, in Brighton is 6, in Brush is 1, in Burlington is 1, in Canon City is 2, in Castle Rock is 1, in Centennial is 2, in Colorado Springs is 37, in Cortez is 1, in Craig is 3, in Delta is 5, in Denver is 122, in Durango is 5, in Eagle is 1, in Englewood is 26, in Estes Park is 1, in Evergreen is 1, in Firestone is 3, in Fort Carson is 3, in Fort Collins is 16, in Fort Lupton is 1, in Fort Morgan is 7, in Frederick is 4, in Frisco is 7, in Glenwood Springs is 4, in Golden is 1, in Grand Junction is 19, in Greeley is 11, in Gunnison is 1, in Indio is 1, in Johnstown is 1, in La Jara is 1, in La Junta is 3, in Lafayette is 22, in Lakewood is 3, in Lamar is 2, in Leadville is 1, in Littleton is 26, in Lone Tree is 10, in Longmont is 6, in Louisville is 5, in Loveland is 7, in Lyons is 2, in Montrose is 4, in Monument is 1, in Palisade is 1, in Parker is 9, in Peterson Afb is 1, in Pueblo is 18, in Rifle is 3, in Salida is 7, in Steamboat Springs is 4, in Sterling is 4, in Thornton is 5, in Trinidad is 2, in U S A F Academy is 1, in Vail is 3, in Walsenburg is 1, in Westcliffe is 1, in Westminster is 2, in Wheat Ridge is 25, in Woodland Park is 1, and in Wray is 2.

Colorado is the Centennial state; having won statehood in 1876. Its capital is Denver, called the “Mile High City,” because its altitude at the state capitol steps is 5,280 feet. Colorado’s population is 4,653,023, and over half the state’s population is in the Denver metro area. Known for its Rocky Mountains and abundant outdoor sports opportunities, such as skiing, hiking, fishing and hunting, Colorado also offers tourists Pike’s Peak, the Royal Gorge, and the Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater. Denver is home to an active theater culture, a world-class symphony, and many sports activities. You can visit a gold mine, tour the state capitol building, climb a mountain, or relax in some therapeutic natural hot springs.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Colorado has a population of 4,665,177. Of this population, 1,140,002 are under the age of 18 and 462,190 are at or above the age of 65.