Services

Esophagus/Robotic Esophagectomy

For esophageal cancer, your pre-op workup includes an endoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), upper GI, CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis, PET scan, labs, cardiology consult, colonoscopy, and possible Mediport and feeding tube placement if chemotherapy and radiation are needed before surgery.

We offer both laparoscopic and open surgical options, as well as surgeons experienced in robotic esophagectomy, depending on your needs. Surgery involves removing the tumor and surrounding esophagus and lymph nodes and reconnecting the stomach to allow you to eat and drink normally. In some cases, the esophagus and stomach are both removed, and the colon is used to make a new connection. Surgery generally takes three to four hours.

After surgery, you will spend likely the first day in the intensive care unit and then transfer to the surgical floor. You’ll have a tube in place for five days from your nose down the back of your throat to your stomach to allow your connection to heal. On day five, you’ll have an upper GI to check the connection, and if it has healed, you will start with a clear liquid diet and work your way up to eating solids. Expect to stay in the hospital for seven to 10 days.

You will be seen in the office approximately two weeks after discharge to have your staples, drains, and possibly feeding tube removed, and you may follow up with an oncologist as needed. It generally takes six to eight weeks for you to fully heal and recover. You can expect to follow up with your surgeon with a CT scan every three months for two years, every six months for years three to five, and yearly after five years.

Foregut (Upper GI) Surgery

We offer a range of surgical treatments for upper GI conditions, such as GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, hernias, tumors, and difficulty swallowing. Many of these conditions are treated with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or endoscopic approaches, where we access the surgical site through your mouth and use small incisions and specialized tools to treat the condition.

For upper GI conditions, your pre-op workup may include a CT scan, PET scan, upper GI endoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), barium swallow, labs, and cardiology evaluation.

Gastric

For gastric cancer, your pre-op workup includes a CT scan of your chest/abdomen/pelvis, PET scan, upper GI endoscopy (EGD), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), barium swallow, labs, and cardiology evaluation. You may also need a Mediport placed if you have chemotherapy before surgery.

During surgery, your team will remove all or part of the stomach depending on the location of the tumor. You will likely have a temporary feeding tube placed in your abdomen during surgery, and you can expect to spend five to seven days in the hospital.

Pancreas

Pancreatic cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach from a team experienced in the complex abdominal surgeries needed to care for this type of cancer. Our surgeons are leaders in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, including research to improve options for patients and expertise in robotic-assisted procedures. In select patients, surgeries like the Whipple procedure, which traditionally requires a large abdominal incision, can be performed robotically with small incisions.

For pancreatic cancer, your pre-op workup includes a CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), special MRI to look at the pancreatic ducts (MRCP), possible ERCP to unblock any ducts, PET scan, labs, cardiology consult, and possible Mediport if chemotherapy and radiation are needed before surgery.

We offer surgical options depending on the location of your tumor, including the Whipple procedure, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, or total pancreatectomy. The Whipple procedure removes the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the end of the bile duct, and a small part of the stomach. A distal pancreatectomy removes the tail of the pancreas and often the spleen. A total pancreatectomy removes the entire pancreas. The surgery generally takes three to five hours.

After surgery, you might spend one to two nights in the ICU, but you will spend most of your stay on the surgical floor. During your seven to 10 days in the hospital, you can expect to have your pain controlled, spend plenty of time out of bed, and have your diet slowly advanced from clear liquids.

You will be seen in the office approximately two weeks after discharge to have your staples and drains removed, and you may follow up with an oncologist as needed. It generally takes six to eight weeks for you to fully heal and recover. You can expect to follow up with your surgeon with a CT scan every three months for two years, every six months for years three to five, and yearly after five years.

Liver

Our surgeons offer options beyond traditional open surgery for liver conditions and cancer, including both laparoscopic and robotic procedures. These approaches benefit patients by using small incisions, reducing the risk of complications, and speeding recovery time. With robotic approaches, the robotic technology also improves guidance and precision.

For cancer patients with certain tumors in the liver that can’t be removed through surgery, we also offer surgical placement of a liver infusion pump for chemotherapy. This wireless device is placed using abdominal surgery into part of the hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver. It allows your team to deliver higher doses of chemotherapy drugs directly into the liver with fewer side effects.

For liver cancer surgery, your pre-op workup includes a CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis, MRI of the liver, bone scan, liver biopsy, labs, and cardiology consult. Surgery will include removing the specific parts of the liver affected by the tumor.

After surgery, you might spend one to two nights in the ICU, but you will spend most of your stay on the surgical floor. During your five to seven days in the hospital, you can expect to have your pain controlled, spend plenty of time out of bed, and have your diet slowly advanced from clear liquids.

You will be seen in the office approximately two weeks after discharge to have your staples and drains removed, and you may follow up with an oncologist as needed. It generally takes six to eight weeks for you to fully heal and recover. You can expect to follow up with your surgeon with an MRI every three months for two years, every six months for years three to five, and yearly after five years.

Bile duct

For bile duct procedures, your pre-op workup includes a CT scan of your chest/abdomen/pelvis, liver ultrasound, MRI, MRCP and ERCP to evaluate the ducts, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) tube, labs, and cardiology clearance.

Some of your surgical options include the removal of part of the bile duct, the removal of part of the liver, the Whipple procedure, a biliary bypass, or stent placement. Depending on your surgery, you may spend 1-2 nights in the ICU. Otherwise, you will spend five to seven days on the surgical floor.

Colorectal

For colorectal cancer, your pre-op workup includes a colonoscopy, endoscopy (EGD), CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis, water-soluble enema, labs, and cardiology consult. Surgery will include removing the specific parts of the colon affected by the tumor. After surgery, you will stay on a surgical floor for five to seven days until your bowels resume function and your pain is controlled.

Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Your abdominal wall is an intricate structure of connective tissues and muscles. Our surgeons have experience in surgical reconstruction of these tissues to restore the function of the abdominal wall and improve conditions like complex or recurring hernias. We offer open, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques based on your specific needs.

After your surgery, you’ll stay on the surgical floor for about five days. You will be seen in the office approximately two weeks after discharge, and it generally takes six to eight weeks for you to fully heal and recover.