Surgery

Chiari malformation is a debilitating condition where your brain tissue extends into your spinal canal. This happens when part of your skull is abnormally small or misshapen, and presses on the brain, forcing it downward.

We skillfully perform the delicate procedure needed to relieve the pressure, offering instant relief in many cases.

The surgeons on our team span a wide range of specialties, including general surgery.

General surgery typically includes the following procedures:

• Anti-reflux procedures
• Appendectomy
• Breast surgery
• Colonoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Gallbladder removal
• Hemorrhoid and anorectal surgery
• Hernia surgery
• Varicose vein procedures
• Wound care

Our neurosurgeons offer access to procedures that treat numerous conditions, including brain tumors, craniofacial abnormalities, malformations and spinal disorders.

You might need to get an orthopedic procedure if you have a condition affecting your spine or joints. If nonsurgical treatments prove ineffective and surgery is required, we have a collaborative mindset and encourage you to participate in moving your care forward.

We also offer educational materials to help you successfully navigate your experience before and after surgery, so you can recover with confidence.

In robot-assisted surgery, we use robotic arms to perform complex procedures through small, dime-sized incisions. Robotic technology mimics the surgeon's movements, providing the identical eye-hand-instrument ability, without a time delay. This technique gives your surgeon more control and access to detailed visuals. As a result, we can perform more complex and delicate procedures with great precision.

Potential benefits of this minimally invasive approach include:

• Faster recovery time
• Reduction in postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stays
• Smaller scars

Hysterectomy surgery

If you seek treatment for fibroids, cancer or endometriosis, we might recommend a robot-assisted hysterectomy.

Robotic hysterectomies offer numerous benefits over traditional approaches to vaginal, laparoscopic or open abdominal hysterectomies. These advantages include the ability to dissect and remove lymph nodes during cancer-related procedures.

Hysterectomies done with the assistance of robotic technology give your surgeon better visualization. This is especially critical when working around delicate and confined structures like your bladder. Better visualization also offers a distinct advantage when performing complex surgery dealing with adhesions from prior pelvic surgery or non-localized cancer.

Prostatectomy surgery

Robotic prostatectomy surgery is quickly becoming the preferred treatment for prostate removal in the early stages of prostate cancer. If your doctor recommends prostate surgery, the cancer was likely caught early.

With robotic prostatectomy, the likelihood of complete recovery without long-term side effects is better than conventional surgical methods. Robotic prostatectomies have become an effective method of prostate surgery.

Additional types of robotic surgery

Our surgical team is qualified to perform numerous robot-assisted specialty surgeries. These techniques are also effective across a wide range of other disciplines, including:

• Gastroenterology — Lower anterior resection, colectomy
• General — Cholecystectomy, hernia repair, gastrectomy, lymph node excision, lymphocele excision
• Gynecology — Salpingo-oophorectomy
• Oncology — Hepatobiliary procedures, radical tonsillectomy, tongue base resection
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) — Transoral tongue base resection for sleep apnea
• Urology — Adrenalectomy, cystectomy, full or partial nephrectomy, orchiectomy, pyeloplasty, renal cyst excision, pediatric and adult ureteral reimplantation, vaginal vault suspension

After your surgical procedure, we make your recovery process as relaxing as possible.

Once you leave the operating room, you will comfortably rest in the post-anesthesia care unit/recovery area, where you will remain until your doctor discharges you. You may not eat anything until your doctor has cleared you to do so.

You should not drive within 24 hours after receiving sedation, so you will need to arrange for transportation. You might still feel sleepy at the time of discharge and should plan on going home and resting for the remainder of the day.

A written copy of your discharge instructions will be given to the adult who accompanies you. You should read these instructions when you get home and are more alert.