There are many reasons your physician may recommend surgery. An operation may help relieve pain, improve movement, or be life saving. An operation can also be used to diagnose a problem, such as when a biopsy helps a doctor detect cancer or other disease.
Surgeries are generally categorized as inpatient or outpatient. Inpatient surgeries require the patient to stay in the hospital one or more days following the procedure. Outpatient procedures allow the patient to return home the same day as the surgery.
Improvements in technology, as well as the training and skill of the physician, have changed the way many surgeries are performed.
One reason patients can return home so quickly is the increased use of minimally-invasive procedures.
During minimally-invasive surgery, physicians will use a laparoscope, which isa small tube with a video camera. They make small incisions to insert the laparoscope and other instruments needed to perform the surgery.
This type of procedure reduces the post-operative pain and the amount of bleeding during surgery, and there are fewer and smaller scars than with open surgery.
Minimally-invasive surgery also means more convenience and comfort for the patient.
For example, a new stereotactic breast biopsy system at Ashtabula County Medical Center gives physicians the opportunity to take a sample of breast tissue without using invasive techniques in a full surgical room.
With stereotactic breast biopsy, a small, hollow needle is used to remove a tiny sample of tissue for biopsy. The surgeon uses the mammogram’s x-ray equipment and computer to pinpoint the precise area to remove the sample.
A local anesthetic is used, meaning that only the area to be biopsied is numbed. The patient remains awake throughout the procedure.
Many surgeries require the patient to be asleep during the procedure. In those cases, an anesthesiologist administers the proper amount of general anesthesia to put the patient to sleep and monitors the patient’s condition and vital signs throughout the surgical procedure.
At ACMC, anesthesiologists also screen for sleep apnea, a condition in which a person stops breathing temporarily while they sleep. This screening not only provides anesthesiologists with information they need to know while a patient in unconscious, but it can also be helpful for the patient’s post-operative recovery – both in the hospital at home.
Surgeons at ACMC are assisted by a team of skilled and compassionate nurses. Each surgical team is trained not only for the procedures to be performed, but also to be prepared for any complications that may arise during the surgery.
They are also assisted by the best technology.
New diagnostic technology such as a 40-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, give surgeons at ACMC more detailed information about a patient’s health problems. One of the most technologically advanced diagnostic tools in the country, this CT scanner can be used to find internal bleeding, bone deformities, lung damage, arterial blockage, the spread of cancer and more.
The surgical expertise available at ACMC has you covered from head-to-toe.
Ear, Nose and Throat
ACMC offers comprehensive care for conditions affecting the ears, nose and throat, including sinuses, tonsils, adenoids and ears. This includes nasal blockage or deformity, sinusitis, swallowing disorders, tonsillitis, hearing problems, vocal chord problems and more.
Gastroenterology Surgery
ACMC’s gastroenterologist offers a variety of surgical options performed on the digestive system. Common procedures include colostomy, colonoscopy, removal of polyps, as well as treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis and Chrohn’s disease.
General Surgery
ACMC’s surgeons also perform appendectomies, gallbladder surgery, thoracic surgery, lung biopsy, cancer removal, thyroid surgery, hernia repair, and breast biopsy.
Obstetrical & Gynecological Surgery
ACMC's OB-GYNs perform the latest surgical procedures related to child-birth and other conditions of the female reproductive system including thermal ablation, hysterectomy, and procedures to treat uterine cancer, ovarian cysts, pelvic organ prolapse, irregular menstrual periods, and infertility. They also perform Caesarean section deliveries when necessary.
Orthopaedic Surgery
ACMC’s orthopaedic surgeons use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to repair damaged joints and tendons; replace knee, hip or shoulder joints; repair; repair fractured bones; reconstruct ligaments; and release carpal tunnel tendons.
Podiatric Surgery
ACMC’s podiatrists offer a variety of surgical procedures for the foot, ankle and lower legs such as bunions, hammer toes, corns, plantar fasciitis and tight tendons. They also perform procedures to help with poor blood circulation, diabetes-related injuries, wound care, and sports injuries.
Urological Surgery
ACMC’s urologists treat a variety of urologic conditions, including prostate cancer, impotence, kidney disease, penile disorders, and testicular disorders. They offer the most current procedures for stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence pelvic organ prolepses, erectile dysfunction, overactive bladder, and other prostate issues.
Vascular Surgery
ACMC offers comprehensive care for disorders of the veins and (arterial) blood vessels. Candidates for vascular surgery include patients with carotid artery blockages, chronic leg swelling, hypertension and kidney artery blockage, leg pain due to poor circulation (called Claudication), and varicose veins.
Take time to discuss surgical options with your physician. And for the most comprehensive surgical expertise in our area, ask to be referred to a specialist at ACMC.
For more information about surgical options at ACMC, visit www.acmchealth.org.