Pittsburgh, PA, 7th September, 2009: Dr. David Blumberg, a laparoscopic colon surgeon in Pittsburgh has pioneered a novel laparoscopic colon surgery technique that is widely applicable and successful in many diseases including complicated Crohn’s disease.

Dr. Blumberg’s pioneering work was reported in the journals Surgical Innovations in September 2008 and Surgical Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Percutaneous Techniques in February and June of this year. This novel laparoscopic colon surgery technique enables patients to have a 95-98% success rate compared to a 20-25% failure rate commonly reported for traditional laparoscopic colon surgery.

Two of Dr. Blumberg’s patients who had Crohn’s surgery over the past month shared their experiences with us. Susan an 18 year old morbidly obese female with a stricture involving her transverse colon suffering from Crohn’s disease for 4 years remarked: “No surgeon would operate on me because they said it was too risky”. “They told me I weighed too much and that the location of the stricture was too difficult to remove you know with the small cut surgery”. “But I knew I wasn’t getting better and I needed an operation”. “I travelled two hours so that I could get an expert colon surgeon to help me”. “Dr. Blumberg was able to perform a laparoscopic colectomy on me and I was in the hospital for only 3 days with no complications and 1 week later I am like a new person”. “I am so grateful for what he did for me and I no longer feel sick.”

While a traditional colon resection performed laparoscopically is associated with increased complication rates for patients with obesity like Susan, Dr. Blumberg’s has shown that his novel laparoscopic technique is equally effective and safe in patients with obesity. His work was reported in the peer reviewed journal, Surgical Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Percutaneous Techniques this February. Using this technique, Dr. Blumberg found that his new laparoscopic colon operation could be completely successful in 96% of obese patients and 92% of morbidly obese patients. There were no increased complication rates and patients with obesity had a similar short hospital stay as thin patients.

Dr. Blumberg has been successful in performing laparoscopic Crohn’s disease surgery in some of the most complicated patients.  We caught up with a second patient of his, Steven who recently had a laparoscopic colectomy.  Steven was referred to Dr. Blumberg with recurrent Crohn’s disease with a stricture where the small intestine had previously been connected to the colon. “Twelve years ago I had my initial operation for Crohn’s disease. “My colon was perforated and the surgeon needed to make a big incision to remove the bowel”. “I did well but it took a long time for me to recover from surgery”. “This year it came back in my intestine as a narrowed area. After struggling for 9 months with medications I was referred for surgery”. “I saw multiple surgeons and all of them said I needed a big cut because there would be a lot of scar tissue in my abdomen from the first operation and because I had a perforation”. I did not want a big incision because I knew that it would take months for me to recover like the last time. I needed to get healthy quick and get back to my job”. “I consulted with Dr. Blumberg even though he was several hours away and he was able to resect my colon stricture completely laparoscopically with only 4 days in the hospital and no complications. Two weeks after surgery Steven is back at work as a College Professor and said: “I feel great now and my recovery was so smooth thanks to the small incisions and Dr. Blumberg’s compassion and expertise”.

Laparoscopic Crohn’s disease surgery is usually not offered to patients with recurrent Crohn’s disease because it is technically difficult and has a higher failure rate in part do to scar tissue created from prior surgery. Dr. Blumberg says that he was successful in Steven’s case as well as many other patients because he utilizes a laparoscopic device called a harmonic scalpel that can safely separate the intestine when it is trapped in scar tissue. Utilizing this device, Dr. Blumberg demonstrated in the peer-review journal Surgical Innovations last September that combined use of laparoscopic colectomy with a harmonic scalpel was successful in 95% of patients with scar tissue in the abdomen thus avoiding an open colectomy (colon resection).

About Dr. David Blumberg

Dr. David Blumberg, is a colorectal surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Dr. Blumberg pioneered Band-Aid colon surgery, a novel laparoscopic colon surgery technique which results in less discomfort, quicker recovery, and improved cosmetic look. His technique offers hope for patients with colorectal diseases that also have obesity and prior abdominal surgery. Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS is a Board Certified General and Colorectal Surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. David Blumberg received his M.D. from SUNY-Downstate Medical School. He trained as a surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and as a colorectal surgeon at the prestigious Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Blumberg is recognized as a national expert in the area of colorectal cancer and laparoscopic colon surgery. He has written over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and was awarded by his peers as one of Pittsburgh’s Top Doctors in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Blumberg’s clinical expertise is in the areas of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns & Colitis), diverticulitis and laparoscopic colon surgery. Dr. Blumberg is dedicated pioneer actively working to improving the surgical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, colon polyps, Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis while minimizing the trauma of an operation.

Contact Information
Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Bandaid Surgery, PC
The Coronado Medical Building
500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: (412) 682-3333
FAX: (412) 682-3335
[email protected]

Visit us on the web http://www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com

Pittsburgh, PA, 11^th August, 2009- Colon surgery for obese patients usually requires a “big” incision. A “big” cut which may be over a foot in length is painful and in obese patients in particular may result in difficulty breathing resulting in pneumonia due to splinting from the abdominal pain. A large incision in obese patients is associated with high rates of wound infection and hernia. For these reasons, obese patients could potentially derive great benefits by having their colon surgery performed laparoscopically which utilizes small cuts and is less painful.

Despite the promise of laparoscopic surgery for obese patients, multiple top hospitals in the country have failed to come up with a successful way of performing laparoscopic colectomy in patients with obesity. Even at the best hospitals, laparoscopic colon resection surgery is a failure in as many as 40% of obese patients requiring ultimately a large incision, higher complication rates and prolonged hospitalization. As a result laparoscopic colon surgery is often avoided in patients with obesity for safety reasons.

A study performed by Dr. David Blumberg a board certified colon and rectal surgeon in Pittsburgh offers great hope for obese patients. Dr. Blumberg has pioneered a new laparoscopic colectomy technique that allows obese patients to undergo laparoscopic colon surgery with a high success rate. His work was published in the peer reviewed journal, Surgical Laparoscopic, Endoscopic and Percutaneous Techniques this February. Dr. Blumberg’s technique differs from the usual laparoscopic colorectal surgery technique called laparoscopic-assisted colectomy whereby the surgeon performs only part of the operation laparoscopically. In Dr. Blumberg’s technique the entire operation is performed laparoscopically including the colon removal surgery and the reconstruction or anastomosis of the colon. Using this technique, Dr. Blumberg found that the laparoscopic colon operation could be completely successful in 96% of obese patients and 92% of morbidly obese patients with no increased complication rates and a similar hospital stay of 5 days for all patients. All of the operations were performed for colon tumors (colon cancer) and were equally effective in removing tumors in obese patients says Dr Blumberg as judged by equivalent lymph node removal in all patients. Dr. Blumberg believes that his novel technique is the reason for his high degree of success but also acknowledges that his own technical experience and ability may account for the superb results. He advocates that future randomized studies evaluate his completely laparoscopic colon resection technique and compare it to the laparoscopic-assisted colon removal surgery.

About Dr. David Blumberg:

Dr. David Blumberg is a colorectal surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Dr. Blumberg pioneered Band-Aid colon surgery, a novel laparoscopic colon surgery technique which results in less discomfort, quicker recovery, and improved cosmetic look. His technique offers hope for patients with colorectal diseases that also have obesity and prior abdominal surgery. Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS is a Board Certified General and Colorectal Surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. David Blumberg received his M.D. from SUNY-Downstate Medical School. He trained as a surgical oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and as a colorectal surgeon at the prestigious Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Blumberg is recognized as a national expert in the area of colorectal cancer and laparoscopic colon surgery. He has written over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and was awarded by his peers as one of Pittsburgh’s Top Doctors in 2007 and 2008. Dr. Blumberg’s clinical expertise is in the areas of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns & Colitis), diverticulitis and laparoscopic colon surgery. Dr. Blumberg is dedicated pioneer actively working to improving the surgical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, colon polyps, Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis while minimizing the trauma of an operation.

Contact Information:

Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS

Bandaid Surgery, PC

The Coronado Medical Building

500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110

Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Phone: (412)682-3333

FAX: (412) 682-3335

Visit us on the web http://www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com/

Email: [email protected]

Pittsburgh, PA, 8^th August, 2009 -What is the best method to prevent, treat and most importantly cure America’s second most deadly disease –Colon Cancer?

Also known as colorectal cancer, Colon cancer is a malignant tumor of the large intestine. Each year over 150,000 Americans, over 10,000 of those Pittsburgh residents are diagnosed with this deadly disease. However, according to Dr. David Blumberg, a colorectal surgeon in Pittsburgh and founder of Bandaid Surgery, “with early detection, proper colon cancer treatment with surgery and routine check-ups, Colon Cancer has a 100% lifetime cure rate.

While Colon cancer is most prevalently diagnosed in people over age 40, the disease can be present at an early age and lay dormant in the colon as a form of colon polyps for many years before it becomes a malignant cancer.

The American Cancer Society and the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation say, “There are many factors that help lower a person’s risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight; consuming a low fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and beans; refraining from tobacco usage and exercising regularly”. “However, the most important factor in preventing colon cancer according to Dr. David Blumberg “is to get an annual Colonoscopy starting at age 40 if you have a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer and at age 50 if you have no risk factors”.  “This simple test, says Dr. Blumberg, allows the colon surgeon to examine inside the entire large intestine, detect inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers and diagnose early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum.  “Even if you don’t have symptoms,” says Dr. Blumberg, “upon examination of the colon, a diagnosis can be determined and a treatment plan can be prescribed. If the findings are colon cancer, the best surgical option is laparoscopic surgery”. “This minimally invasive colon surgery technique, according to Dr. Blumberg and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons uses tiny incisions, minimizes pain and promotes shorter hospitalization and early recovery!

“Getting tested has been proven to saves lives” and if you are diagnosed with colon cancer, find out if laparoscopic colon surgery is an option for you”. Laparoscopic colon surgery is now been proven safe for colon cancer treatment so why undergo an open operation with a big cut when it so much more painful and recovery takes months says Dr. Blumberg. Dr. Blumberg a colorectal surgeon in Pittsburgh has recently pioneered a new laparoscopic colectomy technique that reduces the size of incisions and allow a 95% success rate of completing a colon cancer operation via a laparoscopic or minimally invasive approach (www.mmdnewswire.com/laparoscopic-colon-surgery-5454.html)

About Dr. Blumberg:

Dr. David Blumberg is a Board Certified General and Colorectal Surgeon with special training in colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Chrohn’s & Colitis), and diverticulitis and Laparoscopic colon surgery. Dr. Blumberg is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has been recognized by his peers for clinical excellence as a surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) since 1999. Prior to this, Dr. Blumberg was a fellow in Surgical Oncology at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in Manhattan and a fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the prestigious Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Blumberg is a recognized national leader in the area of colorectal cancer. He is the author of over 40 articles and has lectured at multiple national meetings. Dr. Blumberg has been recognized as a Top Doctor in Pittsburgh by Castle Connelly for two consecutive years.  Dr. Blumberg has been performing Laparoscopic colon operations since 2000 and has a proven track record of expertise in this highly specialized field with multiple publications and innovations. If you have concerns about colon cancer or a colonoscopy call Bandaid Surgery, PC at 412-682-3333 for more information.

For Additional Information regarding Colon Resection surgery for Polyps and Colon Cancer Treatment or to make an appointment contact:

Contact Information

Dr. David Blumberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS

Bandaid Surgery, PC
The Coronado Medical Building
500 South Aiken Ave, Suites 107-110
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Phone: (412) 682-3333
FAX: (412) 682-3335

Visit us on the web http://www.bandaidcolonsurgery.com/

Email: [email protected]