Colon Resection
Each year more than 600,000 surgical procedures for colon diseases are performed in the United States. Today, many colon surgeries can be completed with a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach. Most surgeries performed on the colon are for cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and colitis.
In 1990, LifeBridge Health's Dr. Peter Geis became one of the first surgeons in the nation to perform a minimally invasive colon resection. In most laparoscopic colon resections, surgeons repair and/or remove portions of a patient's colon through small openings in the abdomen while watching an enlarged image of the patient's internal organs on a television monitor.
Ileostomy/Colostomy
MIS is also being used for fecal diversion with the creation of an ileostomy, an opening between the surface of the skin and the small intestine, and a colostomy, an opening between the surface of the skin and the colon. Fecal diversions are often used to treat complex rectal or anal problems and poor control of bowels (incontinence). If a patient has had an ileostomy or colostomy that must be closed, MIS may be used to easily reverse and close the ileostomy or colostomy with a very short hospitalization.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
A procedure that views the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum with a small camera inserted down the throat. The test is often used during a biopsy or to help diagnose the cause of abdominal pain, heartburn, swallowing problems, or unexplained symptoms such as vomiting, anemia or weight loss.
Colonoscopy
A common procedure that uses a special scope to look inside the colon and rectum to detect abnormal growths, inflammation, or other problems. It also can detect colorectal cancer in its early stages and is recommended as a routine screening procedure for most people 50 and older.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
A procedure that uses a tiny telescope-like instrument to diagnose the cause of symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes) and abdominal pain to detect diseases of the gallbladder, bile system, pancreas, and liver.
Insertion of devices for nutritional support
To provide adequate nutrition when patients cannot eat normally, physicians may insert enteral or parenteral devices into the body.
Enteral devices involve inserting a feeding tube through the nose into the stomach (nasogastric tube) or bowel (nasoenteral feeding tube) or through the skin into the stomach (gastrostomy) or bowel (jejunostomy). Parenteral feeding uses special intravenous devices called catheters that are inserted into a large vein in the arm or chest. Common catheters include single, double or triple lumen catheters; Hickman; PICC, Broviac catheters and ports.