 |
Innovative Minimally Invasive Surgeries Rank
Sacred Heart Among Top Hospitals in State The surgeons and staff at Sacred Heart
Medical Center rank among the state’s best when it comes to
groundbreaking surgical procedures, many of which are performed with
state-of-the-art, minimally invasive techniques.
Laparoscopic surgery, for example, is performed with the help of a
small endoscopic camera and several fine instruments inserted
through natural body openings or small incisions. Laparoscopic
procedures offer tremendous benefits to patients, including a
shorter hospital stay, faster recoveries and a smaller cosmetic
scar. |
While a portion of minimally invasive surgeries performed at Sacred Heart
are common applications of the video-guided technology, such as gall bladder
removal, gastric bypass and exploratory operations, Sacred Heart physicians
are also applying minimally invasive technology to more complex surgeries.
Their work has widened the realm of treatment possibilities for patients and
has ranked them among only a handful of physicians around the state who
perform such complex, sophisticated surgeries.
The sheer volume of such surgeries performed at Sacred Heart translates to a
high level of competency. The more a surgery is performed, the better the
outcome for the patient.
The general surgeons at Sacred Heart have demonstrated their commitment to
continuing to improve surgical outcomes through their membership in the
National Surgical Quality
Improvement Program (NSQIP), a program that measures and reports surgical
outcomes among the top hospitals in the country. Data is collected on 133
surgical procedures.
Surgical Procedures in which Sacred Heart is Among the State’s Leaders:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weak area of the abdominal aorta that can
burst or rupture when under pressure. Diagnosed early, this condition can be
treated through a minimally invasive technique known as an aortic stent
graft. This technique prevents potential aortic rupture, which is a life
threatening condition that requires a lengthy hospital stay when treated. In
contrast, patients who have an aortic stent graft mostly require just 24
hours’ hospitalization and return to normal life within a week. Surgeons at
Sacred Heart led the region in performing successful aortic stent grafts in
2006.
Anti-Reflux Procedures
Anti-reflux procedures treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or heartburn.
Surgeons at Sacred Heart performed approximately 65 anti-reflux procedures
over the past year, which parallels the number being done at best-practice
hospitals in the state.
Whipple Surgery
One of the most complex surgeries, the Whipple procedure is used to treat
pancreatic cancer. Through the expertise of surgeons and their surgical
support teams, patients have a higher rate of survival, and outcomes are
considered to be best-practice in the state.
Ileoanal Pouch Procedure
Used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, this procedure involves removal of
the colon and reconstruction of the bowel, allowing patients to resume
normal bowel function rather than carry the burden of an ileostomy bag. It
is a highly complex procedure. On a national scale, it is limited in how
frequently it is performed and the average of postoperative bowel
incontinence is 15-35%. However, surgeons practicing at Sacred Heart
performed more than 50 of these procedures in the past year and showed zero
to minimal incontinence with their patients. These superior results are
being enhanced as surgeons here explore the laparoscopic technique with this
surgery.
Carotid Artery Plaque Removal
In 2006, vascular surgeons at Sacred Heart performed 225 carotid artery
plaque removal surgeries – carotid endarterectomies – unclogging the main
artery in the neck, and led the state in volume for this stroke prevention
procedure. Importantly, Sacred Heart showed exceptional outcomes with a zero
rate of post-surgical strokes.
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
This is a minimally invasive procedure for lung cancer. Led by Robert
Schauer, MD, surgeons at Sacred Heart have been performing minimally
invasive thoracic procedures for 16 years, providing patients with shorter
lengths of hospital stays and complication rates well below the national
average.
Endoscopic Ultrasound
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is used to visualize hard-to-find tumors of the
gastrointestinal tract, combining conventional video endoscopy with sound
waves to provide a more efficient staging of cancers than any other
technology can obtain. Board-certified, fellowship-trained
gastroenterologists on staff at Sacred Heart work in interdisciplinary teams
to use this sophisticated technology and provide integrated delivery of care
for patients.
Gynecological Oncology Surgery
Additionally, Sacred Heart is among the top centers in the state for
oncology surgery. For example, a wide range of gynecological oncology
procedures are performed here by board-certified, fellowship trained GYN
oncologists.
“The big thing in GYN oncology surgery now is that the prognoses and
outcomes for women with gynecological oncology problems is much better if
they are treated by a specifically trained GYN oncologist,” says Deb
Dotters, MD. “More and more women are learning these facts and demanding
this now.”
Neurosurgery
Work is advancing on improving minimally invasive techniques for spine and
brain surgery with the use of minimally invasive access systems,
intraoperative EMG monitoring and improved fusion devices. Frameless image
guidance for brain surgery has decreased the morbidity of brain surgery by
decreasing the size of required incisions. Cervical and lumbar disc
replacements are being investigated at Sacred Heart as the field is
preparing itself for the introduction of these technologies.
Back to Surgical Services Home Page
|
