We believe that advances in surgical technology – particularly minimally invasive procedures – have transformed patient care. Drawing on the experience of surgeons around the world, and our own medical and technical expertise, we're continuing to introduce innovative products and techniques that reduce tissue damage during surgery, and can make patient recovery faster and less painful. To get an idea of the progress we've made to date, please have a look at testimonials from people like you who have had these procedures using a minimally invasive approach.
Antireflux/GERD Surgery Testimonials
Deborah
Deborah, a 46-year-old associate television producer and mother, was diagnosed with acid reflux six years ago by her allergist. She had to be careful not to eat meals too soon before she went to bed—a bed that was propped up on cement blocks to ease her heartburn symptoms. "I would always wake up at night choking, with a dry cough that wouldn't stop. My coughing fits would get so bad during the day that I sometimes had to pull over while I was driving."
Her gastroenterologist prescribed Prilosec OTC® Pills and a promotility agent, mentioning acid reflux surgery as a last resort. But last year she had to double and triple the recommended dosage of her medication to get relief.
Deborah had several diagnostic tests that determined that she was a good candidate for a minimally invasive antireflux surgery, and she scheduled the procedure for December 1998.She now has her life back, sleeps through the night, and is completely off her medication.
Bruce
Bruce was living on antacids until a few months before his antireflux surgery. His general physician had prescribed Prevacid® (lansoprazole) Capsules and then explored a few other, less expensive options.
"I grew sick and tired of taking antacids and pills. I heard about minimally invasive antireflux surgery on the radio and asked my doctor about it. I considered it a low-risk operation worth looking into," Bruce said.
Bruce was referred to a specialist who performed preliminary tests, including endoscopy. When he learned he was a prime candidate for minimally invasive antireflux surgery, he jumped at the chance to make a change for the better.
"I don't have to worry about acid reflux – period. It is nice not having to worry about taking pills. Undergoing minimally invasive antireflux surgery is a lot easier than worrying and always having a gnawing in your stomach. The fact is that even though medication may control symptoms, it doesn't stop what is actually going on," Bruce explained.
Bruce said he's leading a happier life now and can eat spicier favorites such as sausage – something he hadn't been able to enjoy for years.
Ron
Ron's eating and sleeping habits were interrupted constantly by GERD. He slept on four stacked pillows and resigned himself to a simple, often bland diet. Ron needed a way out. His general physician prescribed medicine to control the symptoms, but Ron found that his body developed a resistance to the dosage after a short time.
"After a while, my body became acclimated. The medications didn't help as much. The doctor would increase dosage or prescribe something different, but we were running low on options," Ron said. Ron began showing signs of fatigue at work; his performance slipped. He became quick-tempered and nervous. After visiting a specialist, Ron elected to undergo minimally invasive antireflux surgery.
"I would recommend minimally invasive antireflux surgery to anyone who is suffering," Ron said. "Everything about my quality of life has increased tremendously."
Colon Cancer Surgery Testimonials
Victor
Victor S., MD, from Boca Raton has been a pediatrician for the last 30 years and knows the importance of early detection. He has a strong family history of colon cancer and knew he needed a colonoscopy as a preventative health measure. Four months ago, Victor took control of his health and scheduled a colonoscopy screening. He had no prior symptoms or signs of cancer. After receiving his colonoscopy, his doctor diagnosed him with colon cancer. His doctor told him he needed to have colon surgery to resect the cancerous portion of his bowel, but gave him the options of traditional open surgery or minimally invasive colon surgery. Victor chose minimally invasive colon surgery.
"When anyone tells you, 'you have cancer' your first reaction is fear," Victor said. "But by knowing my procedure options, the downsides were immediately minimized." At 67, Victor still enjoys going to work every day and loves interacting with his young patients. He was able to return to his normal daily routine a couple of days following his procedure and was working three weeks later.
Coincidently, one of Victor's colleagues also had to have colon surgery. However, she elected to have the open procedure performed and was out of work for four or five months.
"The recovery differential between myself and my colleague was 2-3 months," said Dr. Victor S.
"There is no question that I was glad to have the minimally invasive colon surgery over the open procedure to treat my colon cancer," Victor said. "The best part is that you can have the same results and not have to suffer nearly as much. A shorter recovery time and less pain definitely aids in your general outlook."
Holly
Even as a trained health care professional, Holly had always dreaded getting a colonoscopy at the recommended age of 50. So, when the time came, she waited and put it off for seven years. For Holly, the wait did not work in her favor. After her 57th birthday, Holly finally prepared herself and went in for a routine colonoscopy. Her doctor found cancer cells and recommended she have her colon removed. Holly was aware there were various treatment options available, and after her surgeon reviewed her records and met with her, he recommended she have her colon removed minimally invasively through a laparoscopic procedure. Her surgeon explained that in addition to being as effective as a traditional open surgery, the benefits of this type of procedure would help accelerate her recovery period.
"I felt very comfortable with my surgeon's recommendation," Holly said. "I discussed my options with my family and decided to have the minimally invasive colon surgery." After Holly underwent the procedure, she was able to start walking around the hospital the next day. Her doctor told her she could go home once she felt well enough and was able to eat a full meal. Three days after the procedure, Holly fulfilled her doctor's requirements and went home.
As a physical therapist, Holly does a lot of heavy lifting throughout the day. While she returned to work within a week of her procedure, she again followed her doctor's recommendation and waited two weeks before getting back to her full routine. "I went back to work a week after I had the procedure but did not do any heavy lifting for a couple of weeks," Holly said. "I wanted to make sure I was in great condition for my patients and my family, especially my three grandchildren."
Today, Holly enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and canoeing at her lake house.
Horace
"I dedicated my career to educating young minds. Who would have guessed that one of them would end up saving my life?"
Horace, a retired professor at Vanderbilt University, is familiar with colon polyps. After previous routine colon screenings revealed several polyps, the professor learned a lifesaving lesson: the importance of scheduling regular colonoscopies. In 2003, when a regular colon screening and physician's check-up revealed an infected polyp, Horace was referred to a surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville to undergo diagnosis and treatment. During the consultation, the two men's roles were reversed. The surgeon, a former student of Horace's, began teaching the professor about his surgical options. They discussed the difference between conventional surgery and minimally invasive colon surgery.
"My surgeon educated me about the benefits of a laparoscopic procedure and said I may have less pain, less scarring, and a quicker recovery. As his former teacher, I know what a great mind he has so I felt very comfortable and trusted him," said Horace. "There was no question in my mind about which choice to make for my procedure."
The removal of Horace's polyp revealed he was living with sigmoid cancer (located in the lower half of his colon). The day after the procedure, Horace was able to walk around the hospital. He said he felt no pain and already was itching to hit the golf links.
"I've recently retired after teaching for 40 years and have remained very active. I was concerned the cancer and surgery would keep me from living the active retiree lifestyle I enjoy, but it hasn't," he said.
Since undergoing the minimally invasive colon surgery to remove the polyp, Horace has been able to return to his regular golf game, playing with friends twice a week. He exercises regularly at the YMCA and travels often to visit his son, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
Minnie
"I walk two miles a day, five days a week. I love to exercise." For Minnie, it is crucial to lead an active lifestyle. So when she learned she might have colon cancer, she was anxious to identify her options and find out if she would be able to maintain her busy lifestyle.
Minnie's first signs of colon cancer appeared during a doctor-recommended colonoscopy at her annual physical. The procedure identified a potentially cancerous polyp on her colon. Minnie's doctor advised her to see a surgeon who specializes in colorectal procedures. Although the surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville was six hours away by car, Minnie immediately scheduled an appointment. A week later, Minnie and her daughter drove the six hours to see the surgeon, who then reviewed her tests and recommended she have her colon removed.
He presented Minnie with her options, either a conventional surgery or a minimally invasive colon surgery. Minimally invasive colon surgery has been shown to be as effective as conventional surgery for the treatment of curable colon cancer when performed by an experienced surgeon.
Minnie and her daughter decided she should have the minimally invasive colon surgery. "I asked the surgeon how soon I could receive the procedure. He responded by scheduling the surgery two days after my daughter and I met with him." After having the procedure, Minnie was told by her surgeon he had removed her colon, and tests confirmed it had been cancerous. "I was shocked with the results, but glad I had my colon removed before it became worse."
Minnie was able to walk around the hospital the morning after the procedure. Surprisingly, she did not have any pain or discomfort, and she spent only three days in the hospital.
A week after having her colon removed, Minnie was able to begin her walking routine again. She is cancer-free and has been able to return to her active lifestyle.
Don
Don always had considered himself and his wife to be healthy people with no medical problems and often passed over opportunities to get tested for colon cancer since they were not experiencing symptoms. However, when his wife went in for an annual physical and discovered she had advanced colon cancer that would require chemotherapy, Don took the advice of her physician and scheduled a colonoscopy immediately. As he feared, he also was diagnosed with colon cancer – luckily not as advanced as his wife's – and elected to move quickly on a treatment. Since Don's colon cancer was not as advanced, his surgeon recommended he opt for laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, surgery – a procedure that would allow him to be out of the hospital, and back on his feet in a shorter amount of time. In October 2004, one month after Don's diagnosis, he checked into the hospital for laparoscopic surgery and checked out with all colon cancer removed and no need for additional chemotherapy.
Don was back on his feet in a remarkable amount of time – and back to work in the second week after his surgery. Looking back at his experience with laparoscopic surgery, Don is amazed at the advances in surgery in recent years, and is reassured by the types of procedures available to those who may deal with a similar diagnosis. "I was concerned that I would have a long recovery time, but my experience was just the opposite. I was able to get back to the things I enjoy within a couple of weeks," said Don.
"It's great to see they're making such great progress, but the important thing is for you not to delay getting checked for colon cancer," said Don. He has already sent both of his children for tests, leading his son to have small polyps removed.
With Don's surgery behind him, he now turns his focus to supporting his wife, who has a longer road of chemotherapy treatments ahead of her. "When you hear the news, you're worried at first, but our family believes my wife's odds are good with chemotherapy," Don said. "We're lucky to have a supportive family that will help us through it."
Tom
Thud. That is the word Tom of Baltimore uses to describe the way he felt when his physician diagnosed him with colon cancer in October 2004. Tom had quit his job as a house painter because he had been feeling tired and could not get through the day – but never imagined he soon would be dealing with surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his colon. He had experienced no other symptoms and always had considered himself a relatively healthy man.
During a quarterly physical in October, a rectal exam showed blood in Tom's stool, and he was immediately scheduled for a colonoscopy. The colonoscopy and a later CAT scan discovered Tom had a cancerous tumor, about the size of a small banana, in his colon. Tom's surgeon immediately recommended the laparoscopic surgery option over open surgery and showed Tom exactly what the process entailed; however, he mentioned that due to the size of the tumor, it was possible he might have to switch to an open surgery at some point during the operation. Comfortable with the surgeon's experience with laparoscopic surgery, Tom trusted his recommendation and prepared himself for the procedure. "It turned out I had to wait a week and a half before I could get in for the surgery, and that was by far the toughest time," said Tom. "I was nervous, scared, and just ready to do something about it."
After being wheeled out of surgery at Tom learned the laparoscopic surgery had been successful and his surgeon was able to remove the entire tumor without switching to an open surgery. Tom remained in the hospital for three more days, then was sent home with a prescription for pain medication that he never had to use. "I've had almost no pain at all, and each day I feel a little bit better," said Tom. He also laughs that one of his main directives from his surgeon was not to eat salads or raw vegetables after the surgery--which was easy, considering he does not like vegetables anyway!
Now back at home, Tom has been pleased with the speed of his recovery. He is been able to sleep well, and get back on his feet to do all of his daily activities. He hopes to return to house painting sometime soon, but focuses on taking things one day at a time for right now. To anyone dealing with a similar diagnosis, Tom recommends being calm, asking about laparoscopic surgery as an option, trusting the experts, and finding support in your family and friends.
Ulcerative Colitis Surgery Testimonials
Rachel
For Rachel that was not the case. She has spent the last three years suffering from pain and most days had a hard time getting out of bed. She yearned to eat a regular meal and function like a normal person again. Rachel is 18-years-old and suffered from ulcerative colitis.
"I would go to bed and hope that I would wake up to a day without pain," Rachel said. "I was so sick."
Rachel was first treated with prescription medication, but due to consistent flare ups and pain she discovered that the sulfur ingredient in the pills caused her to have an allergic reaction. She was only able to tolerate steroids, and every summer she was put in the hospital for up to a month to receive steroids in high doses. This helped alleviate short term pain, but in the summer of 2004, nothing would work. Rachel was doubled over in pain and had to be rushed from Mississippi to New Orleans in an ambulance to see a colorectal surgeon. The colitis had spread to her entire colon and the only answer was to have it removed or her colon would rupture.
Taking Rachel's age into consideration, the surgeon decided to remove her colon laparoscopically. He wanted her to heal as quickly as possible and enjoy her freshman year of college.
"Having surgery has given me my life back," Rachel said. "I went from lying in bed for two months to being active in less than one week. I have as much energy as I possibly can have and act like a normal college freshman – stay up until 2 a.m., walk to class, and work out every day."
At the time Rachel just wanted her colon removed to feel healthy again. Now, as she reflects on the experience, she is very thankful that she had it removed laparoscopically. She experienced very little pain and minimal scarring.
"I went swimming with my friends last week and was self conscience about my scars, but no one noticed," Rachel said. "The fact that I had major surgery and my scars are so small that others won't ever notice is unbelievable." Rachel's life is no longer dictated by her disease and she is medication-free for the first time in three years.
"There were days when I wanted to give up and didn't understand why this was happening to me," Rachel said. "But with great surgeons and the technology available today, I was able to look into the future and have hope."
PPH/Hemorrhoids Surgery Testimonials
Patient #1
"I have suffered from hemorrhoid problems for over 35 years. During the last seven to ten years, I was informed that I had third degree hemorrhoids and required traditional hemorrhoid surgery. I had heard from people who had traditional surgery that the pain during the recovery period is severe. I therefore decided to undergo shot therapy. The shots worked well, but only for a period of about five months. If I didn't go in for a new series of shots, I suffered from spontaneous bleeding, which was embarrassing.
My doctor told me that there was a new procedure, known as stapling. He told me that he had studied the procedure extensively and had performed the surgical procedure several times. Having great faith in him, I told him to go for it and we set an appointment for the procedure in June 2002. I was to be the sixth person in Los Angeles to undergo this procedure.
I was told that this was a relatively pain-free procedure. I was also told that the procedure had an excellent history of success. My only concern was the pain I would suffer following the surgery, especially following a bowel movement.
After undergoing PPH, there was some discomfort, but none of it resulted in pain. I returned to work the next day. I found it somewhat uncomfortable sitting in my chair. Accordingly, I elected to take the next day off. I was able to go back to work the following day for a half day, and after that I was back to a full day's work and my normal activities.
I have only one piece of advice to any patient who is considering PPH. Stop suffering in silence; stop suffering all the side effects of hemorrhoids that no one wants to discuss.
I have donated a significant amount of time to speak on this subject as a patient. I have done so since I know that a large number of people suffer from what I have suffered from for so long, and I want them to know that because of PPH they need not suffer any longer."
Patient #2
"I was suffering from extremely painful hemorrhoids and fissures. I had been housebound and in agony for 5 weeks. Three doctors had written 6 different prescriptions for creams, ointments, and suppositories. The medications did not work and I was desperate for relief. I choose PPH over conventional hemorrhoidectomy procedures because I knew someone who had undergone the conventional surgery and was told that the healing process is long and painful.
I was assured that the PPH surgery recovery would not be long and that it would be minimally uncomfortable. I was however concerned that the recovery would be painful and slow and that I might not be a viable candidate for the PPH procedure. I was also concerned about being "stapled" and that I would feel them (the staples) and then what passing them would be like.
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being unbearable pain), I entered the hospital at a level 10 and left the hospital, one day later, at a level 3. After the first 2 days I no longer needed any pain medication. It has been 6 weeks since my surgery and there has not been a hint of recurrence.
I would tell patients who are considering PPH that they should not hesitate to undergo PPH. I only wish I had known about this solution sooner so that I would not have suffered for so long."
Patient #3
"I had had hemorrhoids for 40 years, most notably since having my children. I had "managed" them through the years but recognized in the last 10 years that I needed help because of the discomfort."
"I work away from the home and had delayed seeking help because of the lengthy "down time" and pain following any of the surgical procedures that I had researched. I had also heard the "war stories" of family and friends who had had the conventional hemorrhoid surgeries. After I heard about PPH, I read the brochure. I was then ready to find the right doctor and set the date. My initial visit to the doctor was informative. Essentially, I did not have any fears or anxiety going into the procedure."
"PPH was performed on an outpatient basis. I experienced minimal pain – more what I referred to as discomfort. I took a pain pill just before I left the hospital, primarily because I was told to do so, rather than because I felt a need for it. I did not take any pain medication thereafter. I had the procedure on a Wednesday. The next day, I was on my feet, without pain, resting at intervals as I felt the need. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I was at home doing almost anything I wanted. I even went out for supper on Saturday evening and I was ready to return to work on Monday. I have not had any recurrence of the hemorrhoids. My advice to other patients considering PPH is that they should read the literature, talk to a doctor, get all of their questions answered, and then do it! Why continue to suffer when there is such remarkable help now available?"
Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) Physician Testimonials
Read what doctors have to say about the many advantages of PPH:
Dr. Hoffman
I have been in practice for 20 years. I started performing PPH so that I could offer my patients an alternative to conventional hemorrhoidectomy. The advantages of PPH over conventional hemorrhoidectomy techniques that I have observed in my patients are less postoperative pain and a quicker return to the activities of daily life. I have seen some patients resume their normal diets on the night of surgery and return to regular activities the following day.
Dr. Watson
After performing PPH on patients, I see improved patient outcomes and with much less morbidity in comparison to conventional hemorrhoid techniques.
Dr. Rafferty
I am a board certified colorectal surgeon and have performed over 50 PPH surgeries. On average, I perform 2 to 4 PPH procedures a month. I also train surgeons on the techniques of performing PPH. I started performing PPH when it was introduced in the U.S., because the procedure offers less discomfort and time off work for patients in comparison to conventional hemorrhoidectomy. In addition, I have had cases where patients usually return to their normal diet on the day of their surgery and return to normal activities within 48 hours.
