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the surgeon wraps the fundus around the esophagus, suturing it into place. "Last fall, I saw a patient who was suffering from severe GERD," Dr. Hall recalls. "He had a hiatal hernia, and most of his stomach was in his chest. This led to chronic ref lux and acute pain. In surgery, I pulled his stomach back from his chest and repaired the crus of his diaphragm, stitching the anterior and posterior crus together and buttressing the defect with biologic mesh. This mesh disintegrates over time, while native tissue is stimulated to grow. The next day, the patient's ref lux had resolved completely." Gallbladder Removal through a Single Incision Similar to single-incision gastric ba nd ing, cholec y stec tomy ca n be performed t hrough a single cut at the umbilicus. Using a da Vinci robot equipped with special instrumenta- tion, surgeons are able to offer their patients this minimally invasive pro- cedure, which results in reduced blood loss, minima l scarring and shorter hospital stays. "We use da Vinci with specialized i n s t r u ment a t ion , a l lo w i n g u s t o access the ga llbladder through the belly button," Dr. Barkan says. "We only make one incision. We have been implementing this technique for the last year." Dr. Hall adds, "Patients with a lower BMI and no prior abdominal surger- ies do very well with this procedure. Patients experience more surgical pain than with multiple small incisions, but they are delighted with the cos- mesis, and for that reason, it is a fairly popular procedure." The Human Touch The surgeons at Winthrop-University Hospital exhibit kindness and a willing- ness to explain procedures carefully to patients. Dr. Brathwaite notes that intellectual inquisitiveness, which also informs academic medicine, can lead to enhanced patient care, too. "Our fellows and residents want to know what is happening with patients," he says. "That is really important. They don't just operate and go home." "We are receptive and accommodat- ing to our patients," Dr. Barkan adds. "We are sensitive in working with refer- ring physicians, ensuring they receive timely reports and sending patients back to them for their workups." Two convenient locations, in Nassau and Suffolk counties, support patients of the Center for Bariatric Surger y. Seminars, support groups, and pre- and post-operative care are available at both practices. To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t s u r g e r y a t Winthrop-University Hospital, or to refer a patient to the Center for Bariatric Surgery, please visit www.winthrop.org. ■ Pat Cherasard, PA-C, prepares the da Vinci robot for surgery. Some of the members of the care team with Winthrop's Bariatric Surgery Program, which has locations in Mineola and Patchogue. M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Long Island | 2 1