A Cystoscopy allows the physician to look inside the bladder. Before this procedure, a local anesthetic is applied to the area around the urethra. The physician then inserts a cystoscope through the opening of the urethra. The physician may fill the bladder with water or saline to make it easier to see the walls of the bladder. In the case a tumor is found, the physician can take a sample for biopsy or remove it completely.

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Colonoscopy

A Colonoscopy enables the physician to look inside a patient’s entire large intestine. This procedure is used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum, as well, as diagnose the causes of unexplained bowel habits.

Before the procedure, the patient is usually given a mild sedative. While the patient lies on their left side, the physician will inset a long, flexible, lighted tube into the patient’s rectum and slowly guide it into the colon. The tube, called a colonoscope, transmits an image of inside the colon and can inflate the colon with air to help the physician see clearly.

The physician can remove all or part of an abnormality using tiny instruments passed through the scope. If there is bleeding, the physician can pass an instrument through the scope to stop the bleeding or inject medicine.

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Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is a procedure that uses a tube with a light and a camera lens at the end (laparoscope) to examine organs, check for abnormalities, or perform minimally invasive surgeries. Laparoscopy is a surgery which avoids making large incisions. Tissue samples may also be taken for examination and testing.

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Cataract Removal

Cataract Removal is a procedure to remove a clouded lens from the eyes to improve vision. This procedure often includes the implantation of an artificial lens.

With the help of a microscope, the surgeon will make a small incision at the junction of the clear and white outer parts of the eye. Depending on the type of cataract, the lens may be removed with suction and surgical instruments or with suction and a machine that uses high frequency sound waves to break up the lens. An artificial lens is usually inserted to help the eye focus. The incision maybe closed with fine stitches or it may be self sealing.

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Arthroscopic Surgery

Arthroscopic Surgery is used to diagnose and treat many joint problems. This significant advance in joint care allows for rapid return to improved activity. Most commonly used in knees, shoulders and ankles, the arthroscope can also be sued for spine, hip, wrists and elbows.

Step 1 Three small incisions are made around the join area. Surgical instruments will be positioned in these incisions.

Step 2 A tube-like needle is inserted in one incision. Fluid is pumped through the tube and into the joint. This expands the joint, giving the surgeon a clear view and room to work. The tube will also be used as drainage needle to regulate the amount of fluid in the joint during the procedure.

Step 3 Through another incision, the surgeon insets the arthroscope. This instrument has a light and a small video camera that send images to a TV monitor in the operating room.

Step 4 With the video images from the arthroscope as a guide, the surgeon can look for damaged tissue. If the surgeon sees an opportunity to treat a problem, a variety of small surgical instruments can be inserted through the third small incision.

Step 5 The surgeon may close the incisions with stitches or tape. Recover from arthroplasty is faster than recovery from traditional open joint surgery.

For a virtual demonstration of this procedure, check it out: http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/surgerycenter/surgerycenterflash/arthroscopy.html

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Hernia Repair

A hernia develops when the outer layers of the abdominal wall weaken (or have a defect), bulge, and tear. The hole in this outer layer allows the inner lining of the abdomen to protrude and form a sac.

Open Repair Surgery is the more traditional approach to Hernia treatment. There are 5-10 different approaches and can be performed with local and general anesthesia. In a typical surgery, the protruding tissue is returned to the abdominal cavity and the sac that has been formed is removed. The surgeon repairs the hole in the abdominal wall by sewing strong surrounding muscle over the defect. Mesh may be used in place of sewing.

Videoscopic (Laparoscopic) Hernia Surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. A telescope is attached to a camera is placed through a small opening under the belly button. Two more small cuts are made in the lower abdomen. The hernia defect is covered with a mesh and secured with stitches, staples, titanium tacks, or tissue glue.

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Bunionectomy

A bunion is a painful deformity of the bones and joint between the foot and the big toe. Long-term irritation caused by poorly fitting and/or high-heeled shoes, arthritis, or heredity causes the joint to thicken and enlarge. This causes the big toe to angle in toward and over the second toe, the foot bone (metatarsal) to angle out toward the other foot, and the skin to thicken

Surgical removal of a bunion is usually done while the patient is under general anesthesia and rarely requires a hospital stay. An incision is made along the bones of the big toe into the foot. The deformed joint and bones are repaired, and the bones are stabilized with a pin and/or cast.

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Suction Lipectomy (Lipsuction)

Suction Lipectomy (Liposuction) is a procedure in which localized deposits of fat are removed to recontour one or more areas of the body. Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The tube is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. The suction action is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe, depending on the surgeon's preference.