General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, including the oesophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts. General surgeons are trained to perform a wide range of surgical procedures, such as appendectomies, hernia repairs, and mastectomies.

Gastrointestinal surgery, on the other hand, is a subset of general surgery that focuses specifically on the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Gastrointestinal surgeons are highly specialized in performing surgical procedures related to the digestive system, such as bowel resections, bariatric surgery, and surgeries for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).