#roboticsurgery Archives

Living With a Hernia

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Unless you’ve suffered from one, most people only know about hernias from the Weird Al Yankovic song (“Living With A Hernia”). Hernias are caused by pressure on an opening or weakness in the wall of muscle or connective tissue of the groin, belly button or upper stomach that allows a hernia sac (like a balloon) to protrude. An increase in abdominal pressure pushes the hernia sac and its contents (organ or tissue) through the opening or weak spot. The muscle weakness may be present at birth or develop at any age. The most common types of hernia are:

. Inguinal (inner groin) – fat, intestines, colon or bladder may protrude through the abdominal wall. About 96% of all groin hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area.

. Incisional (resulting from an incision) — intra-abdominal organs push through the abdominal wall at the site of previous abdominal surgery. This type is most common in elderly or overweight people who are inactive after abdominal surgery.

. Femoral (outer groin) — occurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral vessels into the upper thigh. Femoral hernias are most common in women, especially those who are pregnant or obese.

. Umbilical (belly button) — part of the small intestine passes through the abdominal wall at or near the navel. Common in newborns, it also commonly afflicts obese women or those who have had many children.

. Hiatal (upper stomach) — when the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes. These hernias cannot be seen or felt from the outside and majority do not require surgery

Anything that causes an increase in pressure in the abdomen can cause a hernia, including lifting heavy objects without proper support and coughing or sneezing. Obesity, poor nutrition, smoking and prior abdominal surgery, can all weaken muscles and make hernias more likely.

Surgery to repair a hernia is one of the most commonly performed surgeries. Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers minimally invasive robotic procedures using the da Vinci robotic system. Hernia surgery performed using the robot allows for faster healing time, less scarring and shorter hospital stays.

If you are experiencing hernia discomfort and would like to make an appointment with a urologist, please contact the Ambulatory Care Center at 718-670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

What is a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Finding it difficult to lose weight through dieting and exercise? If you are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or at least 100 pounds overweight, you might be considering weight loss surgery, like a vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

During vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the surgeon removes a large portion of your stomach. The new, smaller stomach is about the size and shape of a banana, limiting the amount you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food.

This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. This type of surgery, called laparoscopic surgery, is usually done using a tiny camera called a laproscope that is placed in your belly. The camera is connected to a video monitor in the operating room that allows the surgeon to see inside your belly and remove most of your stomach.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is not a quick fix for obesity. It will greatly change your lifestyle, but you still have work to do. To lose weight and avoid complications from the procedure, you will need to follow strict exercise and eating guidelines given to you by your doctor and dietitian. This procedure cannot be reversed once it has been done.

Your surgeon will ask you to have a complete physical exam, blood and other tests, as well as an ultrasound of your gallbladder to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. It is also necessary to visit with other health care providers to make sure any medical problems you may have, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart or lung problems, are under control before surgery. Quitting smoking is also required before surgery.

Counseling is recommended prior to surgery to make sure you are emotionally ready for such a major lifestyle change. Classes are available to help you learn what happens during the surgery, what you should expect afterward, and what risks or problems may occur afterward.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center offers a full range of bariatric surgery options performed by doctors using the minimally invasive da Vinci robotic system. Bariatric surgery performed using the robot allows for faster healing time, less scarring, and shorter hospital stays. Please call 718-670-8908 for an appointment.

Do You Have Fibroids?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

About 20-80 percent of women develop uterine fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus and are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus ranging in size from as small as an apple seed to as big as a grapefruit.

Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Some have heavy bleeding (which may cause anemia), painful periods, pain during sex or lower back pain. Some experience a feeling of fullness in the pelvic area, rectal pressure or frequent urination due to fibroid pressure on the bladder. Large fibroids may cause the abdomen to swell, making a woman look pregnant.

No one knows what causes fibroids. Risk factors for developing fibroids include age, family history, ethnicity, and obesity. Researchers suspect a combination of hormones, like high levels of estrogen and progesterone, may cause them to grow or shrink. For example, they grow rapidly during pregnancy when hormone levels are high, and shrink when anti-hormone medication is used. They also stop growing or shrink once a woman reaches menopause.

Your gynecologist will check during your regular exams to see if you have fibroids. Talk with your doctor about the best way to treat your fibroids which may include medication or surgery. If you have fibroids, but don’t have any symptoms, you may not need treatment.

Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health uses the latest techniques and equipment, such as ultrasonography, color doppler, laser and laparoscopic surgery. We also offer minimally invasive robotic procedures using the da Vinci robotic system. Fibroid surgery performed using the robot allows for faster healing time, less scarring and shorter hospital stays.

For an appointment, please contact the Ambulatory Care Department at 718-670-5486.

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Flushing Hospital Medical Center Celebrates 100th Robotic Surgery

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Pictured from L to R: Dr Alejandro Alcaide , Dr Roberto Cantu Jr. , Nixon Medrick, Dr Sanjeev Rajpal, Dr Frederick Gulmi, Danielle Kronfeld

Flushing Hospital Medical Center celebrates 100 successful robotic surgery cases since adding the da Vinci robot to its team in October 2014. Since its inception surgeons have used robotic technology in a wide variety of procedures with great success. Surgery performed with the assistance of the da Vinci surgical system can offer several benefits to patients such as shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring and less pain.