Considering General Surgery?

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Scripps surgeons offer minimally invasive, robotic options to treat many medical conditions

Many of us need surgery at some point during our lives. Whether it’s Setting new standards in necessary or by choice, surgery is a significant medical procedure. That’s why you should carefully consider who will perform your surgical care surgery—and make sure you understand your surgical options. Scripps has cared for San Diego families for more than 100 years. We’re consistently Scripps general surgeons treat many medical conditions, especially recognized, locally and nationally, for our illnesses and injuries that affect the organs within your digestive quality of care: system. These include diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small • We’ve been named one of the nation’s intestine, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and top 5 large health systems by Truven adrenal glands as well as the various types of abdominal hernias. Health Analytics. We’ve helped countless people overcome problems ranging from acid • Independent data shows that on average, reflux and gallstones to inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. Scripps has higher survival rates, fewer For some of these conditions, medical therapy may be ineffective or medical errors and better patient insufficient and you may be looking at surgical treatments to improve satisfaction than most health systems in your health. In other cases, surgery may be the only treatment option. the U.S. • Many of our specialty services are It’s natural to feel nervous about having an operation. But surgery ranked among the best in the country can dramatically improve your quality of life. And modern surgical by U.S. News & World Report. Our procedures are safer and less invasive than ever before, with minimal gastroenterology and GI surgery down time—letting you get back to work, family, hobbies and other programs are noted for treating the most routine activities more quickly. challenging digestive and liver problems. • We perform surgery at 12 convenient Learn more about general surgery procedures at Scripps, including locations throughout San Diego County, our minimally invasive robotic options. including hospital-based operating rooms and outpatient surgery centers. • We’re proud to offer the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery. Our premier robotic surgery program offers dozens of treatments including hysterectomy, prostatectomy, mitral valve repair, hernia repair and gallbladder removal. Know your surgical options

Before you move forward with surgery to treat your condition, it’s important to understand what options are available to you.

General surgery procedures at Scripps Comparing surgical approaches

Whether you’ve developed a hernia or have been living No matter what procedure you have, you and your with Crohn’s disease, you’ll find the care and support doctor will choose among several surgical approaches: you need at Scripps. We offer the full range of surgical options for many digestive-related disorders, including: • Open surgery requires one large incision, usually in your abdomen. • Cholecystectomy to remove your gallbladder. • Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive • Colectomy to remove part (or all) of your colon. procedure. Your surgeon makes several tiny incisions • Gastrectomy to remove part (or all) of your stomach. instead of one large one. He or she passes tiny • Heller myotomy to treat an esophageal disorder surgical tools, and removes or repairs your organ, called achalasia. through these incisions. • Hernia repair to treat certain inguinal, hiatal and • Robotic surgery is nearly identical to laparoscopic incisional hernias. surgery. But your surgeon performs the procedure • Nissen fundoplication to treat GERD (acid reflux). with the aid of robotic tools and a 3-D camera. • Pancreatectomy to remove part (or all) of your pancreas. The approach best suited for you depends on several • Rectopexy to repair rectal prolapse. factors, including your age, severity of symptoms and • Adrenalectomy to remove an adrenal gland overall health. We are committed to using state-of-the- art techniques that reduce pain and recovery time. Discover the benefits of robotic surgery

Scripps is known for providing care that is safe, effective and innovative. We were among the first in the region to offer the newest type of minimally invasive surgery: Robotic surgery.

What sets robotic surgery apart? • It augments your surgeon’s vision. During other minimally invasive procedures, surgeons only have a All minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopy, two-dimensional view of the surgical field. But during endoscopy and arthroscopy, use fewer (or smaller) robotic surgery, a high-definition camera provides a incisions. This means they are less invasive or damaging magnified 3-D view. to the body, compared to open surgery. But robotic surgery is different in several meaningful ways: • It helps increase precision, dexterity and control. • It uses sophisticated robotic technology. Tiny As your surgeon moves his or her hands, wrists and surgical instruments and a camera are attached to fingers, the robotic arms translate these movements robotic arms. Your surgeon controls these arms from into delicate and precise movements of the instrument a nearby computer. Additionally, surgeons can use in real time. These instruments can also bend and certain intravenous dyes to highlight the blood flow to rotate in ways that laparoscopic instruments cannot, the intestines while removing the diseased part, can and they can reach into places where the human hand visualize the bile ducts during gallbladder surgery to could never visibly go. help identify the proper anatomy or can light up the ureters to protect them during nearby surgery. Many surgeries that once required large incisions and a long recovery can now be performed robotically.

Scripps surgeons perform robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. Consider robotic general surgery at Scripps

If you’re a candidate for minimally invasive general Scripps also offers an ideal combination of training and surgery, choosing a robotic approach may offer experience. Our robotic surgeons are some of the several benefits: most proficient in San Diego. With more than a • Reduced risk of complications, including decade’s experience using the da Vinci Surgical surgical site infection. System, they’ve performed thousands of robotic general surgery procedures. • Less blood loss (reducing the need for a blood transfusion). • Less pain (reducing the need for pain medication). • Smaller, less noticeable scars. • Shorter hospital stay and faster overall recovery. • Quicker return of bowel function, or faster return to your normal diet, following certain colorectal procedures.

Find out if robotic general surgery is right for you.

To learn more about robot-assisted general surgery, and find out if you’re a candidate, call 1-800-SCRIPPS (727-4777). We’ll help you schedule a consultation with a surgeon near you.

Remember, not everyone is a candidate for robotic surgery. Your doctor will help you understand which procedure is safest for you, based on your age, health and other factors. Whether you need a different minimally invasive option, or a traditional “open” approach, you’ll find the right surgical solution at Scripps.